With Oregon’s primary election approaching on May 18th, registered voters participating in partisan races must declare a political affiliation by April 30th. Oregon’s closed primary system restricts voting to within registered party lines, prohibiting Democrats from voting for Republican candidates and vice versa. Independent, minor party, and non-affiliated voters can only partake in nonpartisan races. While there are ongoing efforts to open up primaries in Oregon, the initiative faces challenges due to the large number of unaffiliated voters. The group All Oregon Votes advocates for open primaries, emphasizing the importance of all voters participating in the crucial stage of the election process.