Arizona Bill to Let Independents Vote in Presidential Primaries
January 7th, 2008On January 7, two Arizona State Senators, both Republicans, introduced SB 1064. It would provide that independents, and members of unqualified parties, could vote in the presidential primary of their choice. The sponsors are Senators Jack Harper and Jim Waring.
They probably are not aware that on September 25, 2007, a federal judge in Arizona ruled that if a political party doesn’t wish independents to vote in any of its primaries, then that party can prevent their participation. The state did not appeal this decision.
January 8th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The 9/25/07 Arizona ruling followed the precedent set in Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut, in which the U. S. Supreme Court gave parties the right to invite independents to vote in their primaries.