On January 10, five Washington State Senators introduced SB 5096, which provides that political parties should pay the administrative costs of their own primaries. The bill’s main author is Republican Bob McCaslin, who has the most seniority of any State Senator. The four co-sponsors are all Democrats: Chris Marr, Tim Sheldon, Brian Hatfield and Marilyn Rasmussen. The bill has a hearing in the Senate Govt. Operations Committee on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 3:30 pm. The bill does not actually give major parties the right to nominate by a means other than primary. If it is to be taken seriously, it needs some amendments.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
It’s about time! Since we lost our “Blanket Primary” due to the whining of two unnamed major parties on grounds that they have “the right of freedom of association” it’s time WE THE TAXPAYERS are granted that same right of freedom of association: namely the right to not have to pay for their partisan “Beauty Contests” or the administration of their internal affairs. The time is upon us to get rid of Primary Elections altogether and implement IRV (Instant Runoff Voting).ï¬