Activist group sues to force open primaries
Source: Politico
By DAVID SIDERS 11/14/2018 08:00 AM EST
Proponents of open primaries are mounting a new line of attack in their effort to weaken political parties grip on American elections.
The New York-based Open Primaries Education Fund, representing four voters in New Mexico, said it filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing closed primaries primary elections that limit participation to registered party members constitute an illegal gift of public funds. Such primaries, they claim, benefit political parties while disenfranchising independent voters.
The lawsuit hinges on a specific anti-donation clause of the New Mexico constitution. But supporters say the case, if successful, could have ramifications beyond New Mexico, serving as leverage to pressure lawmakers in other closed primary states.
Politicians, not surprisingly, are reluctant to change a system that theyre comfortable with, said John Opdycke, president of Open Primaries. By raising the basic premise that publicly funded elections should be open to everybody, I think can really help both in the courts, but also in legislatures, to create more momentum.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/14/lawsuit-open-primaries-new-mexico-989588
stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)Those who are willing to declare themselves a member of the Democratic Party should be the ONLY ones that get to say who represents them in the General Election. Those who want to be independent still gets to pick whomever they want in the general, those in third parties should likewise get to select the horse they have in the big race.