Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon SB1592: Relating to primary elections.
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
Digest: The Act changes how primary elections are done in this state. The Act changes how certain vacancies in office are filled. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.2). Provides that any elector may vote in a primary election. Requires that all candidates of any political party appear on one ballot at a primary election. Provides that the two candidates who receive the two highest numbers of votes at a primary election are nominated to the general election. Permits a political party to decline to participate in the primary election and to nominate the party's candidates using the party's individual nominating process. Provides for the process by which vacancies in specified offices are to be filled. Permits political parties that endorse candidates at an election to be listed on the ballot. Prohibits political parties from endorsing candidates unless the parties provide for fair and open participation by all electors affiliated with those parties in making the endorsement. Repeals provisions regarding precinct committeepersons, county central committees and state central committees.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to primary elections; creating new provisions; amending ORS 171.051, 171.060, 171.068, 188.120, 236.225, 246.250, 248.002, 248.004, 248.006, 248.007, 248.008, 248.009, 248.017, 248.019, 248.021, 249.002, 249.006, 249.013, 249.020, 249.021, 249.023, 249.031, 249.035, 249.037, 249.042, 249.056, 249.064, 249.072, 249.076, 249.180, 249.205, 249.215, 249.830, 250.042, 251.022, 251.026, 253.540, 253.565, 254.005, 254.056, 254.076, 254.115, 254.135, 254.365, 254.370, 254.470, 254.555, 254.565, 254.650 and 260.005…
From the introduced text, January 28, 2026:
A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to primary elections; creating new provisions; amending ORS 171.051, 171.060, 171.068, 188.120, 236.225, 246.250, 248.002, 248.004, 248.006, 248.007, 248.008, 248.009, 248.017, 248.019, 248.021, 249.002, 249.006, 249.013, 249.020, 249.021, 249.023, 249.031, 249.035, 249.037, 249.042, 249.056, 249.064, 249.072, 249.076, 249.180, 249.205, 249.215, 249.830, 250.042, 251.022, 251.026, 253.540, 253.565, 254.005, 254.056, 254.076, 254.115, 254.135, 254.365, 254.370, 254.470, 254.555, 254.565, 254.650 and 260.005; and repealing ORS 236.100, 236.215, 236.217, 248.007, 248.012, 248.015, 248.017, 248.019, 248.021, 248.023, 248.024, 248.026, 248.027, 248.029, 248.031, 248.033, 248.035, 248.043, 248.045, 248.072, 248.075, 248.085, 249.042, 249.046, 249.048, 249.068, 249.190, 249.200 and 254.025. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of this 2026 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 249. SECTION 2. (1) Subject to subsection (3)(a)(C) of this section, an elector may not be denied the right to vote in any election in this state solely because that elector is registered as not affiliated with a political party. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, all candidates in primary elections for voter choice offices must be listed on a single ballot, regardless of the candidate's political party affiliation. (3)(a) For each primary election under subsection (2) of this section: (A) The two candidates for each office …
Sponsors
- Mark Meek (D, 20) · primary sponsor
- Janeen Sollman (D, 15) · primary sponsor
- Katherine Lieber (D, 14)
- Hai Pham (D, 36)
- Mari Watanabe (D, 34)
Latest actions
- : In committee upon adjournment.
- : Referred to Rules.
- : Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Common questions
- What is SB1592?
- SB1592 is a bill in the Oregon Legislature (2026 Legislative Measures): Relating to primary elections.
- What does SB1592 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to primary elections; creating new provisions; amending ORS 171.051, 171.060, 171.068, 188.120, 236.225, 246.250, 248.002, 248.004, 248.006, 248.007, 248.008, 248.009, 248.017, 248.019, 248.021, 249.002, 249.006, 249.013, 249.020, 249.021, 249.023, 249.031, 249.035, 249.037, 249.042, 249.056, 249.064, 249.072, 249.076, 249.180, 249.205, 249.215, 249.830, 250.042, 251.022, 251.026, 253.540, 253.565, 254.005, 254.056, 254.076, 254.115, 254.135, 254.365, 254.370, 254.470, 254.555, 254.565, 254.650 and 260.005…
- What is the status of SB1592?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: In committee upon adjournment. (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB1592?
- Mark Meek (D, 20), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB1592?
- On the Oregon Legislature website: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Measures/Overview/1592
Source: official Oregon record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.