HB 3166
Requires all candidates for partisan office and nonpartisan office, regardless of political party affiliation or nonaffiliation, to appear on the same unified primary election ballot, with the five candidates receiving the most votes advancing to the general election ballot.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
8%
Oppose
92%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill changes how primary elections are held in Oregon. Instead of separate primaries for each political party, all candidates for partisan and nonpartisan offices will appear on the same primary ballot. The five candidates with the most votes in the primary will then advance to the general election. Candidates for President and Vice President are exempt from this rule.
Key provisions
- All candidates for partisan and nonpartisan offices appear on the same primary election ballot.
- The five candidates with the most votes in the primary advance to the general election.
- Candidates for President and Vice President are exempt from this rule.
- A candidate must receive at least one percent of the vote in the primary to advance to the general election.
- The bill amends various Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) related to elections and candidate filing.
- It establishes a process for filling vacancies in elected offices after the primary election.
- It addresses the nomination of candidates for voter choice offices, including the role of assemblies of electors.
- It requires the inclusion of political party endorsements on primary and general election ballots.
Who is affected
- Candidates for public office
- Oregon voters
- County clerks
- Political parties
- Election officials
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
The proposed 5- to- 2 amendments and Oregon Unified Primary Act aim to address concerns about voter choice, representation, and democracy in Oregon's electoral process. that the current closed primary system disenfranchises non-affiliated voters, limits competition, and undermines democratic participation. They advocate for an open primary system, allowing all registered voters to participate in public primaries, regardless of party affiliation, to increase voter turnout, promote fair competition, and ensure equal access to primary elections. Many the importance of giving every Oregonian an equal voice in selecting their representative, particularly non-affiliated voters who are currently excluded from participating in the selection of general election candidates. By allowing all electors to vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation, proponents believe this bill would strengthen democracy and promote a more inclusive electoral process.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the proposed legislation express concerns that it undermines the will of the people, disregarding previous votes against Ranked Choice Voting. They argue that implementing this system without voter approval would be undemocratic and potentially lead to cheating, favoring larger parties with more resources. Many that Oregon's existing voting systems are in place for a reason and that introducing new changes without proper consideration could harm small businesses, local communities, and the integrity of elections. Several opponents also express frustration with repeated attempts to pass this legislation, citing the voters' clear rejection of it as reflected in previous votes, including Measure 117.