California’s county election officials are hoping that the state legislature will pass a bill, ending elections for political party officers. For almost a century, members of qualified political parties in California have chosen county central committee members, at the primary election. The Libertarian Party has opted out of such elections, but the other five qualified parties continue to use these elections to choose party officers. The Contra Costa Times has this article, airing the issue. The reason for abolishing these elections is to save money.

New Mexico Senator Eric Griego (D-Albuquerque) has introduced SB 93, which makes it possible for two parties to jointly nominate the same candidate. Also, the bill would let a party nominate anyone, regardless of how that candidate is registered.

South Carolina Representative Garry R. Smith (R-Simpsonville) has introduced HB 3110. It says that no one may vote in a party primary unless the person signs an affidavit saying he or she is a member of the party. Once a voter had signed such an affidavit, the voter would be deemed to continue to be a member of the same party, until he or she signed another form retracting it. Voters could not switch within 30 days of a primary.

The bill does not include presidential primaries, and if passed, would go into effect in time for the congressional primary of June 2012. Currently South Carolina has open primaries. Any voter, on primary day, can decide which party’s primary ballot to use. The Greenville County Republican Party has a pending lawsuit in U.S. District Court, in which the party seeks to implement such a procedure even in the absence of any state law on the subject. That case is The Greenville County Republican Party Executive Committee v State of South Carolina, 6:10-cv-1407.