Ted Kulongoski, Cheri Helt and Andrew Kaza

For The Oregonian/OregonLive

Kulongoski, a Democrat, served as governor of Oregon from 2003-2011. Helt, a Republican, served in the Oregon House from 2019-2021. Kaza is co-chair of the Independent Party of Oregon. The three are chief petitioners of Initiative Petitions 55 and 56, the Voters Fairness Act .

It’s time to open our closed party primaries to all Oregon registered voters. Allowing voters, regardless of party, to help select which candidates will be on the November ballot is essential – not just for the 1 million-plus Oregon voters now barred from the Democratic and Republican primaries, but for all of us. Our democracy works best when the candidates we elect are responsive to the interests and needs of all voters, not just those

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