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Activist Takes Closed Primaries to Court in Oregon



A longtime open primaries activist filed a lawsuit this week <[link removed]> charging that Oregon’s primary election system violates the constitutional rights of Oregon voters.

Mark Porter, a lawyer and independent voter from Clackamas, filed the lawsuit on behalf of himself and Our Primary Voice, a nonprofit for election rights.  

The lawsuit cites the Oregon Constitution, Article II, Section 2 that says all citizens are entitled to vote in all elections if they are (1) over 18 years of age, (2) a resident, and (3) registered to vote. But the state now requires membership in a political party to vote in primary elections which the lawsuit alleges is an unconstitutional requirement for voting. 

Porter declared: “voting is very important to me and I don’t think I should have to join a political party to have a voice in who represents me in government…There are more non-affiliated voters in Oregon than there are Democrats or Republicans and I think all non-affiliated voters should have a voice in electing our representatives.”  

OP SVP Jeremy Gruber added:

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New Report Declares Top Two Primaries Empower People of Color

The NYC Charter Revision Commission commissioned a detailed voting rights analysis of the reforms they are considering (top two open primaries and even year elections) from former US Attorney Loretta Lynch and the top law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. 

Their findings? <[link removed]>

That top two open primaries in New York City would strengthen—not diminish—the ability of protected classes, including Black, Hispanic and Asian voters, to participate in the political process.

From the report <[link removed]>:



We hope this report finally puts to bed the malicious lies spread by status quo voices that nonpartisan primaries hurt people of color.



New York

Speaking of New York, the NYC Charter Revision Commission has issued an interim final report <[link removed]> suggesting that they are still considering open primaries and that they are now focused specifically on the top two model. The report begins by noting that throughout its public hearings, the Commission has heard more testimony in favor of open primaries than on any other subject and that NYC is an outlier, with most major cities allowing independent voters to participate in primaries.  In an exhaustive review <[link removed]>, the report further finds that:

 Top Two Primaries:



The report goes on to dispel many of the claims by opponents that top two hasn’t been effective in California. 

Meanwhile, independents continue to stand up for their rights across NYC and the entire state. Check out the great footage from last week’s primary day protests, organized by Open Primaries <[link removed]>, Let Us Vote <[link removed]>, and Unite New York <[link removed]>:

<[link removed]>The Commission’s next hearing is in Harlem this Monday. Don’t miss your chance to weigh in. You can find out more about testifying by emailing Cathy Stewart at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.  Take a moment and add your name to the Letter to the Charter Revision Commission <[link removed]>and share it with your friends and family.

Oklahoma



The campaign to open Oklahoma’s primaries to all voters (SQ 836) <[link removed]> continues to gain traction as they barnstorm across the Sooner state educating and organizing voters about open primaries.

This week Oklahoma United <[link removed]> in partnership with the LWV of Norman and Women in Action for All Norman hosted a packed house in Norman <[link removed]>, full of energy and thoughtful questions, as folks came out to learn more about open primaries and State Question 836. Our friends in OK report that the “engagement and enthusiasm in the room were truly inspiring — it’s clear that Oklahomans are ready for a more inclusive and representative democracy.”

Texas

As we’ve mentioned before, the Texas GOP is pursuing litigation <[link removed]> to close the state’s primaries. That’s starting to provoke debates across the state on the merits of the state’s open primary system and questions as to why taxpayers should fund private party elections. Check out this great debate on Fox News Houston <[link removed]>, where among other things, they declare closed primaries to be “political welfare.”



The Growth of Independent Voters is Getting Recognized

Major news outlets are starting to wake up to the rapid growth of independent voters in America and the major implications for status quo politics. In an in depth piece this week NBC News <[link removed]>, in partnership with Ballotpedia, takes a deep dive into that growth, finding that as of 2025, 32% of registered voters across the dozens of states and territories with reported data chose not to affiliate with either the Democratic or Republican parties, up from 23% in 2000.

New findings also include the fact that independents are growing more diverse as a voting bloc, both ideologically and demographically. About 56% of independents described themselves as “moderate” (rather than “conservative” or “liberal”) in 2024, up from 50% in 2012, according to an analysis of polls commissioned for NBC News. And 34% of independents were people of color, double the share from 2012.

As one expert declared:



Happy 4th of July!

The Open Primaries Team

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