Bills will be introduced on Monday, Feb. 12, in both houses of the Washington legislature, to make all elections except presidential elections non-partisan. The bills are being energetically promoted by the Grange. In the past, the Grange has been able to influence a majority of legislators in Washington state to carry out its wishes, on election law matters.
The “top two” is a nonpartisan election system– whether party labels are put on the ballot or not.
When party labels are added to the ballot– as in Louisiana– it’s mainly for the voters’ information.
The reason that the “top two” is nonpartisan is that the parties have no way of officially nominating candidates, although, to be sure, the parties have the First Amendment right to endorse candidates. But a party is still not assured of having a candidate in the final, deciding election.
The Grange pushing the bill in Washington state sounds to me like they’re taking out insurance in case the U. S. Supreme Court rules against them on the “top two.”
Don Whiting is a jerk!!!! We all have had confrontations with him. This makes the second attempt for various bills (HB 1534) to allow everyone but the minor parties to use the minor parties names.
This bill won’t be enacted, and the Grange knows it.
If the U. S. Supreme Court strikes down the “top two” which was enacted by initiative in 2004, the Grange is planning a new “top two” initiative for primary day, 2008. This initiative will provide that no party labels will be put on the “top two” ballot.