The April 16 print edition of The Oregonian, the largest newspaper in Oregon, has this editorial, blasting HB 2442. This is the bill that tells the Independent Party, a ballot-qualified party since 2006, that the party must choose a new name.
UPDATE: here is a story in the same newspaper, in which the reporter attempts to find out who is responsible for HB 2442. The bill was introduced by the committee, and no particular legislator is willing to admit suggesting the bill. Thanks to Blair Bobier for that link.
This type of stuff came out in California in 2008. Debra Bowen, the California Secretary of State, tried
to kill the American Independent Party a quilified party
in California, by claiming electors were confused and did not know what they were doing when they registered
AIP.
If you recall CA Secretary of State Jones rejected the
Independence Party, because it was to close of a name to the American Independent Party, so its leadership changed it name to the Reform Party.
It was the County Clerk in Imperial County that took on
Secretary of State Debra Bowen on the point of trying to get the AIP off the ballot in California. When electors wrote “Independent” for party on the HAVA generated forms. The employees of the Imperial County
election official phoned each of them and asked the following question. Was it your intention to register
in the American Independent Party, when you wrote “Independent” on your HAVA form. Every answer was
in the affirmative.
Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party.
Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party
Bad on The Oregonian. People absolutely are confused. Confusion is the only reason to support the Independent Party, they stand for nothing.
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