The Bulletin, daily newspaper for Bend, Oregon, has this story on the various ideas for handling the 2016 primary for the Independent Party. The Independent Party wants not only party members, but independent voters, to be allowed to vote in its primary. The party has a right to make that decision. The complication is that Oregon, for the first time, will be automatically registering every adult citizen known to exist, unless such individuals opt out. Unless those new voters respond to a notice asking them if they want to choose a party, they will be deemed to be independent voters.

The Independent Party is afraid those new voters won’t respond to another notice, letting them know that if they remain independent voters, they can have an Independent Party primary ballot. The party wants the government to send such voters an Independent Party primary ballot automatically, but election officials are worried about the cost.