Oregon Business Association

Entries in the “Good Government” category

OBA Member Commentary - Oregon Open Primaries

January 4th, 2008

The Oregon Open Primary - Its Time is Now
By Phil Keisling

A century ago, Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to abolish the proverbial “smoke-filled room” of party bosses, and require Democratic and Republican nominees to be selected directly by voters.

Today, it’s time for a similarly bold step: abolish Oregon’s existing political party primary.

In its place, the Oregon Open Primary would give every Oregon voter, regardless of personal party affiliation (or lack thereof), an identical ballot in the May primary election. All candidates would be listed. Voters could then vote for their favorite candidate, in each race, regardless of their (or the candidates’) party affiliation, or lack thereof.

The top two voter-getters – again, regardless of party affiliation – would advance to the November election.

Oregon Business Association took a leadership position on this fundamental reform, endorsing the Open Primary in 2005 and working hard to pass it in both the 2005 and 2007 legislative sessions. While a 2006 initiative effort fell just short, in January 2008 a new ballot measure will begin circulating, which will need approximately 82,000 valid signatures by July, 2007.

(To learn more, sign the petition or help in other ways go to www.oneballot.com).

Read the rest of this entry …

Posted in Good Government | Comments (0)