The Independent Party of Oregon claims that it has qualified as a major party in Oregon.

IPO Secretary Sal Peralta reports that he contacted the secretary of state's office on Monday to get a check on the party's registration numbers in preparation for testimony on the Motor Voter bill. The secretary of state's staff informed him that the IPO has 108,744 members as of February 2, 2015. That is 6 members over the 5 percent threshhold for major party status.

The IPO has asked the secretary of state for a determination of major party status. It is unclear if Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) will be willing to make this determination prior to August 2015, as that is the last day major party status must be determined to be included in the 2016 primary.

Major party status means that the IPO candidates will be on the May 2016 primary ballot and in the primary voters pamphlets along with Republicans and Democrats. But major party status also comes with some obligations, both legal and moral.

Following is the release from the IPO:

Feb. 2 – SALEM –

This article originally published on OregonOutpost.com on February 2, 2015, and has been edited for publication on IVN.

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