[EM] Re: parties working to throw out top-two primary in Washington State

[Araucaria Araucana]

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 øYou can't call yourself a Republican or a
   Democratù just doesn't wash," Reed said.
   
   It comes down to this ó 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.

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