Bigamy is the act of marrying one person while being legally married to another. Polygamy is the practice or custom (often religious) of having more than one wife or husband at a time. Most states prohibit a party from having more than one marriage license at a time, and in most states bigamy is a crime.
In Oregon, bigamy is illegal under state law. According to ORS 163.515, Bigamy, a person commits the crime of bigamy if they knowingly marry or purport to marry someone while still legally married to another person. Bigamy is classified as a Class C felony in Oregon. This means that engaging in bigamy can result in criminal charges and, upon conviction, significant penalties including potential imprisonment and fines. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is also not legally recognized in Oregon and falls under the prohibition against bigamy. The state's stance reflects the general prohibition of polygamous marriages under federal law as well, which has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.