HB 3908
Increases the party registration requirement to be a major political party in this state from five percent to 10 percent.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Independent Party of Oregon)
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
38%
Oppose
62%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill increases the minimum percentage of registered voters required for a political party to be considered a ‘major party’ in Oregon from five percent to ten percent. It also establishes a requirement that parties maintain this registration level before each primary election. The bill includes provisions for candidates to nominate for office only if they meet the major party registration requirements, and declares an emergency effective July 1, 2025.
Key provisions
- Increases the major party voter registration requirement from 5% to 10%.
- Parties must maintain 10% registration to qualify for primary elections.
- Candidates can only nominate for office if they meet major party registration requirements.
- The Secretary of State must regularly check party registration levels.
- Registration requirements must be met by the 275th day before each primary election.
- Failure to meet registration requirements results in the party losing major party status.
- ORS 248.006 and 254.135 are amended to reflect these changes.
- An emergency declaration allows the bill to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Who is affected
- Political parties
- Voters in Oregon
- Candidates for office
- The Secretary of State
- Oregon election administrators
Notable changes
- Raises the threshold for a party to be considered ‘major’ from 5% to 10% of registered voters.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
House Committee On Rules
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
The supporters of HB 3908 generally agree that raising the threshold for minor parties to reach major party status from 5% to 10% of all registered voters would provide a more level playing field and protect the interests of small party members. They argue that this change would prevent the disenfranchisement of party members who currently risk losing their unique candidate nominations and autonomy if their membership exceeds the current threshold. By allowing minor parties to maintain their status without reorganizing, proponents believe this law would promote a healthier democracy by safeguarding the representation of diverse viewpoints in the electoral process.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 3908 express concerns that the proposed legislation would disproportionately affect minor parties, potentially disenfranchising certain groups of people who are not registered with a party. They argue that the bill's threshold of 5% voter support for major party designation could lead to unintended consequences, such as entrenching the two-party system and limiting recognition for third parties. Specifically, opponents believe that increasing this threshold to 10% would further marginalize minor parties, including the Independent Party of Oregon, which would lose its ability to bypass accountability mechanisms and potentially blur party lines. By favoring major parties over minor ones, proponents' efforts may inadvertently undermine voter choice and diversity in elections.