On May 23, the Oregon State Senate defeated SB 630 by a vote of 13-17. It would have imposed the “top-two” primary for all partisan elections except president. Proponents of this type of primary said they will now attempt another initiative petition to get the idea before the voters in November 2008.
The “One Ballot” group got a late start in 2006 and fell short of getting the required number of signatures to get the “top two” initiative on the ballot.
One of the ringleaders in the “One Ballot” drive is Phil Keisling, the former secretary of state. Rep. Peter DeFazio has said that the reason Keisling favors the “top two” is that he knows he cannot win a Democratic primary.
The major parties in Oregon could undercut the “top two” monstrosity by inviting independents to vote in their primaries.
This is good news!
Yes indeed. Something to redeem themselves a little after all-mail registration and balloting.