PORTLAND, Ore. — There's a new push underway to try to make a fundamental change to Oregon's elections process, opening up the state's primary elections to all voters. The state's current system uses closed primaries , meaning Democrats can only vote for Democrats and Republicans can only vote for Republicans — and independents don't get to weigh in on partisan primary races.

It's not the first time an attempt has been made to switch Oregon to open primaries, but the latest effort has an unlikely champion: former Democratic governor Ted Kulongoski, whose extensive experience in Oregon politics also includes serving in both state legislative houses and on the state supreme court, as well as service as insurance commissioner and attorney general.

Kulongoski, 85, is the chief petitioner

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