Oregon voters would use shared ballots in many primary races

If voters approve the amendment, covered primaries would use one ballot, and the top two candidates for each office would advance to the general election. The proposed rules cover primaries for listed state and federal offices, plus other offices state law sends to a primary; they exclude presidential primaries. The law could allow more than two candidates to advance. A party could opt out, but it would have to pay for its own nominations and let its affiliated voters take part fairly and openly. Voters affiliated with an opting-out party could not vote in that primary. Voters would decide the amendment at the next regular statewide general election. The Secretary of State would set a party opt-out notice date no more than 250 days before the primary.

A candidate could ask the Secretary of State to show up to three endorsing party names beside the candidate’s name, or to show no party name. The option covers candidates for offices included in the proposed primary rules and state-provided ballots and election information. A party could endorse a candidate only if it follows rules allowing interested voters affiliated with that party to participate fairly and openly. The requested party names would appear on primary and general election ballots and state election information for that election.

An assembly of electors with no more than one-tenth of one percent of active registered electors statewide would be designated a minor political party. The threshold is measured against all active registered electors in Oregon. Candidates could still qualify for the general election by gathering the number of valid registered voter signatures set by law. The proposed definition would apply if voters approve the amendment at the next regular statewide general election.