The Independent Party of Oregon will celebrate its first birthday on January 26th.

The ranks of Independents grew by more than 10,000 new members during the party's first year. This, despite the fact that the total number of voters in Oregon dropped by more than 34,000. The Oregon GOP lost 16,000 members. The Democratic Party of Oregon lost 13,000. There are 800 fewer Libertarians and 800 fewer Greens. Even non-affiliated voters decreased by 6,000. The only party affiliation to grow was the Independent Party.

I testified in support of fusion voting on behalf of the Independent Party at an interim committee hearing of the Senate Committee on Rules and Elections today.

Senator Brad Avakian spoke in favor of his introduction of the measure first, followed by Barb Dudley, a professor at Portland State University who is co-chair of the Working Families Party of Oregon.

Our current system, or any system in which 3rd party candidates are primarily relegated to the role of spoiler, is broken. We believe that it is contributing to voter apathy, the disillusionment of voters toward the legislature, and the disillusionment of voters toward both major political parties. ...

Fusion voting offers us a different way of moving forward.

Rather than locking minor parties out of the political process, Fusion gives them an opportunity to collaborate with the major political parties on a platform and agenda that strengthens all sides while encouraging candidates to reach out to minor political parties and to win their nomination.

Read my full testimony below the fold

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