November 6, 2014

Greetings from Oregon and Independent Voters of Oregon (IVOO). Yesterday's vote on Measure 90 fell short of our goal to create a fully inclusive election system in Oregon. 32% voted in favor of the nonpartisan Top Two reform, the same percentage of votes who are locked out of primary voting under the closed system.

Chuck Young

As many of you know, the road to an election system that recognizes and supports the independent voter is a long and winding one. We knew that when we began this campaign in Oregon, and Tuesday's results bear that out. But we are not discouraged, and we hope you won't be either!

Many Americans are discouraged by the state of politics and we understand why. Elections may decide which party controls government, but the parties are more distant from the people than they've ever been. That's why 42% of voters nationally are independents. In Oregon, while 75% of Republicans and Democrats turned out--only 57% of independents voted.* This is part of growing disillusion with the partisan process, which Measure 90 was created to address. But, for the moment, it's hard to bring the problem and a remedy together, especially when the parties' campaign against Measure 90 made people fearful of systemic change--even though that's the very thing that's needed!

On behalf of the Independent Voters of Oregon (IVOO), we want to thank each and every one of you for your support for our campaign. Top leaders and organizers of IndependentVoting.org came to the state to provide political, financial and moral support. It was great having them! Independents in our national networks called their friends and family in Oregon to help us mobilize a vote. Thank you! The 700,000 Oregon voters who do not belong to the major parties and whose ranks are growing deserve to have full voting rights and someday they will.

Dave Ellis at

Nat'l Conf. of Independents

We pledge to you that we will keep our democracy efforts in Oregon going strong. The campaign for Measure 90 opened up a crucial conversation about new methods of voting, new kinds of coalitions and new ways of responding to the partisanship that is narrowing public debate and destroying our country. Thanks so much for being a part of the fight to bring a more complete democracy to our state.

Independently yours,

Chuck Young and David Ellis
Co-Chairs, Independent Voters of Oregon

*Based on turnout figures from the Secretary of State for non-affiliated, Independent Party and Working Families Party voters.

The Yes on 90 Coalition

The Yes on 90 campaign coalition at the Oct. 4th Equal Vote Conference at the U of O law school. From left to right: Jim Kelly, Chief Petitioner; John Opdycke, Open Primaries; Dave Ellis, co-founder IVOO; Sarah Lyons, IndependentVoting.org; Barbara Dudley, Working Families Party; Steve Hughes, Working Families Party; Jackie Salit, IndependentVoting.org; Mark Frohnmayer, Equal Vote Coalition; Chuck Young, co-founder IVOO, Freddy Gompf, IVOO, Alex Ivey, IVOO. (Photo credit: Cathy L. Stewart.)

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