On 27 Apr 2005 at 11:22 UTC-0700, Araucaria Araucana wrote: >T> he top-two primary initiative was passed in Washington state last > November. > > Usually initiatives cannot be overridden for 2 years after passage, > except by 2/3 majority in the state house and senate. > > But that isn't stopping the parties ... > > http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_042605WABprimaryEL.2187e8452.html > > Could be an opportunity here.
Sorry, registration required. Here is the text: Dems and GOP seek to throw out 'top-two primary' 05:54 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 By ROBERT MAK / KING 5 News SEATTLE -- A new legal battle brewing, not over the governor's race but over the Washington state primary. Video Clip Robert Mak reports More ... Custom Video ... The state Democratic and Republican parties announced Tuesday they are prepared to sue to get rid of the new primary system voters just approved. So much attention was focused on the governor's race that the one issue both parties agree upon was ignored. Just when you thought the fighting over the state primary was done, the state Republican and Democratic parties revealed Tuesday they're ready to go back to court one more time. The Republicans and Democrats probably joined by the Libertarians will file civil litigation seeking to throw out the "top-two primary" and the new court battle begins again said state Republican chairman Chris Vance. Last year, voters approved a new top-two primary. Starting this year the top two candidates in the September primary will advance to the general election in November. That could be two Democrats or two Republicans. Uunder the top two primary, there's no guarantee that either party will have a candidate in November. KING In the September 2004 primary, voters had to pick a political party. Both parties have never liked the top-two primary and now they intend to bypass the primary altogether. They have a plan to pick their candidates at their party conventions this summer. That could undermine the top-two primary because if parties have their way, voters only get to see one candidate from each party by the time they get their primary ballot. Parties are threatening to sue county auditors allow any other candidate to call themselves a Republican or Democrat. "The courts have clearly ruled that the political parties own their name, and that they can regulate its use," said state Democratic chairman Paul Berendt But Secretary of State Sam Reed is defending the top-two primary, saying voters asked for it and he says it's ridiculous for the parties to try and control how candidates label themselves on the ballot. "Terms like Democrat or Republican have been used since Athenian democracy a couple thousand years ago and the thought that somehow you can say to somebody �You can't call yourself a Republican or a Democrat� just doesn't wash," Reed said. It comes down to this � parties want control over picking their nominees. The Republicans have sent a letter to King County elections asking the county to honor only the candidates picked at the party convention. If the county does not do that, the parties expect to file their legal action by June. Ultimately, both parties say they'd like to go back to the primary where you declare a party preference and can only vote for candidates in that party. Legal action is expected by June. -- araucaria dot araucana at gmail dot com ---- Election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info
