Oregon Senate Bill SB1574

Oregon 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/2/26
• Failed: 3/6/26

Caption

Permits a person who will be 17 years of age on the date of a primary election and 18 years of age on the date of the general election to vote at the primary election for candidates of a major political party with which the person is affiliated.

Summary

SB 1574 would allow certain 17-year-olds to vote in Oregon primary elections if they will be 18 by the general election and register at least 21 days before the primary. The bill is limited to participation in the primary for selecting nominees of the major political party with which the voter is affiliated. It also updates related election procedures so county clerks and the Secretary of State can provide appropriate ballot materials and voter information to these younger voters. The measure also makes conforming changes to Oregon’s election statutes governing military and overseas voters, primary ballot content, voter registration confidentiality, ballot drop sites, ballot mailing, replacement ballots, signature verification, and recordkeeping. It adds a requirement that primary ballots issued to eligible under-18 voters contain only the party-nominating information allowed by law, and it directs the Secretary of State to mail informational material explaining primary voting eligibility and party affiliation requirements. The bill includes an appropriation from the General Fund to support county clerks and ballot processing costs, and its changes would apply to primary elections on or after January 1, 2028.

Impact

SB 1574 would amend ORS 247.016, 253.540, 253.565, 254.115, 254.370, and 254.470 to create a new limited voting right for 17-year-olds in primaries and to align election administration rules with that change. It would affect county clerks, the Secretary of State, political parties, and voters who are 17 at the primary but 18 by the general election, while also preserving existing restrictions on ballot content and voter registration disclosure for minors. The bill further authorizes state funding to help implement printing, counting, and administrative changes associated with the additional ballots.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable or supportive sentiment, reflected in the bill’s broad sponsorship by multiple senators and representatives. The caption and digest frame the measure as a targeted expansion of youth participation in primaries rather than a broad overhaul of election law. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials.

Contention

The main policy issue is whether 17-year-olds should be allowed to participate in primary elections before reaching voting age for the general election, and the bill resolves that question only for voters who will be 18 by the general election and who are affiliated with a major party. Potential administrative concerns include the cost of printing and counting additional ballots, the need for updated voter education, and the handling of confidential registration records for under-18 voters. The bill also preserves party-affiliation rules for primary participation, which could remain a point of contention for those who favor broader access to primary ballots or, conversely, oppose any voting by minors.