 IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the first political party other than the Democrats or Republicans, to be recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party in the state.The Independent Party was formed by voter petition in 2006, after House Bill 2614, a law that made it more difficult for non-affiliated candidates to run for public office in Oregon, was enacted in 2005 by the Oregon State Legislature.The same Legislature disallowed non-affiliated candidates from being labeled as "independent" on ballots, freeing up the name for use by the Independent Party.