SCOTUS Rejects Major Party Challenges to Open Primaries

image
Created: 15 May, 2017
Updated: 17 Oct, 2022
1 min read

The AP reported Monday that the Supreme Court has rejected two cases challenging open primaries in Montana and Hawaii. The justices did not comment on their decision to leave the Ninth Circuit's rulings in place.

The majority parties in both states -- Democratic Party of Hawaii and Republican committees in Montana -- filed a legal challenge against the open primary laws in their respective states, which allow voters to choose a party ballot on primary election day without consideration of their party affiliation.

In both cases, lower courts ruled that the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient evidence that their constitutional rights were severely burdened by open primaries; specifically, their First Amendment right to association.

For now, the high court is staying out of the legal challenges to primary elections. In 2015, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to closed primaries in New Jersey brought by a coalition of nonpartisan organizations and individual plaintiffs, led by the Independent Voter Project.

Read More About the New Jersey Lawsuit Here.

Photo Credit: Steven Frame / shutterstock.com

Latest articles

Title graphic for How It Really Works: Running as An Independent
LISTEN: Running for President as an Independent -- How it Really Works
Think about the leaders with bold visions you’ve wanted to vote for, the ones with the best ideas who have the potential to transform American politics. Most never stand a chance, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum....
30 Apr, 2025
-
1 min read
Cnannabis and CBD oil
Sen. Padilla Pushes, But DEA Nominee Terry Cole Won’t Commit to Cannabis Rescheduling
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 30, DEA administrator nominee Terrance Cole declined to commit to the proposed federal rescheduling of cannabis, leaving a critical policy question unresolved as the process transitions to new leadership under the Trump administration....
30 Apr, 2025
-
3 min read
Nurse standing in front of a backdrop that shows a blank map of California and a blank map of Mexico.
Cross-Border Healthcare: A Complex Problem Meets a Bipartisan Solution
While healthcare in California has seen massive investments in coverage and access, these gains often mean little to border residents who split time, family, or even residency across two countries...
30 Apr, 2025
-
2 min read