Linda Williams, chair of the Independent Party of Oregon, and Dan Meek, Senior member, along with former Chair of the Federal Election Assistance Commission and current Chief Elections Officer of Everyone Counts Inc. Paul DeGregorio, announced the results of the Independent Party of Oregon's historic internet primary this evening in Portland, OR.

2290 members of the 54,000 qualified Independents cast online ballots through Everyone Counts' secure system. Every member of the party was mailed a personalized pin verified online with date of birth records from the elections office. They then had from July 8 to 5pm today July 30 to vote online using the encrypted system. This is the first ever binding primary election conducted by means of the internet and largest minor party nomination process in Oregon history.

With fusion voting taking the scene in Oregon's elections this year many candidates of the two major parties have been courting potential third party suitors for crucial votes in a tense election year. The Independent Party, being Oregon's largest minor party, has sparked the keen eye of some unlikely candidates.

Here are the most important races that the Progressive Party is looking at.

In the Governor's race. Democrat John Kitzhaber used direct mailings in the tens of thousands to target this key cross nomination. He won handedly with Richard Esterman and Jerry Wilson finishing a distant second and third respectively. Noticeably absent from seeking the nomination was Republican nominee Chris Dudley. One can only assume that a majority of the write-in and "none of the above" votes were for Dudley but combined still fell below Kitzhaber's total votes anyway.

The Governor's race could still prove interesting with the introduction of a strong third party candidate. Jerry Wilson has consistently pursued the Progressive Party nomination.

In the race for the 3rd Congressional District Libertarian Jeffrey T. Lawrence defeated Pacific Green Party Michael Meo in a race that resulted in more "none of the above" votes than either candidate received in total. The "none of the above" votes are symbolic only and can't eliminate the real life candidate who actually received the majority. This sets up an interesting race for embattled so-called "progressive" and incumbent Democrat Earl Blumenauer who will be facing a Libertarian/Independent challenger and a Progressive/Pacific Green challenger (Progressive Party has endorsed and will cross nominate Michael Meo).

In the 4th Congressional District Republican Art Robinson used mailers and fought for the nomination beating incumbent Democrat Peter DeFazio. DeFazio has yet to seek the cross nomination of the Progressive Party leaving him vulnerable to a Republican/Independent in Robinson. The Pacific Greens have nominate Mike Beilstein for this race. What should the Progressive Party do?

In the 5th Congressional District another Republican beat the incumbent Democrat for the Independent Party nomination. Scott Bruun will face off under the Republican/Independent label against Democrat Kurt Schrader in November. Bruun also reportedly stumped heavily for this nomination. The Pacific Greens have nominated Chris Lugo for this race. What should the Progressive Party do?

It remains to be seen how the Independent Party will effect the Oregon elections in November. They do have a large membership, but not a reputation of organizing and running huge campaigns. It is unclear how much resources they have for the Democratic Governor's candidate and then the other right leaning candidates or if the name alone on the ballot line will be enough to give these candidates the extra boost.

It is undeniable that regardless of the political leanings of the leadership of the Independent Party their membership has shown clearly that they are aligned more right of center than center left.

What do you think of the results? How should the Progressive Party approach these races?

Complete results can be found at http://indyparty.com/results.pdf

Details of the primary process can be found on the Independent Party's website: www.indyparty.com

For more on Everyone Counts, whose clients include the Green Party of Canada and England's Labour Party, and their election systems see their website: www.everyonecounts.com