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Arizona Libertarian Party Opens 2012 Primary Election to Independent Voters

by on Jun. 20, 2012, under Press Releases

Press Release

Arizona Libertarian Party Opens their 2012 Primary Election to Independent Voters.

Libertarian Party files paperwork with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office requesting an open primary on August 28th, 2012.

Phoenix, AZ, June 15, 2012: The Chairman and Board of the Arizona Libertarian Party have voted to open the August 28, 2012 Libertarian Primary Election to members of political parties that are not entitled to continued representation on the ballot pursuant to section ARS 16-804, and to voters who are registered as independent or no party preferred.

This means that for the upcoming Primary Election, those voters as well as Libertarians are welcome to choose a Libertarian ballot in the same way they are welcome to choose a Republican or Democrat ballot. A District Court decision in 2007 (AZLP v. Brewer) permits the AZLP to close its primary elections to non-Libertarians, at the party’s discretion. The AZLP has, since that decision, held closed primaries.

It has been a long-standing tradition in the Arizona Libertarian Party to welcome libertarian-minded independent-registered voters. They have always been able to sign our petitions for office. This opens the door for them to vote in the Libertarian primary this year.

For several years Arizona Libertarian Party has held closed primaries. Our Presidential candidate, Gary Johnson, is actively trying to reach more libertarian-minded independents through his 2012 presidential campaign. The Libertarian Party continues to be the voice of reason and independent thought in American Politics.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 11:06 am and is filed under Press Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/ted.downing Ted Downing

    Thank you, Libertarian Party.  As an independent, I am somewhat pleased. Somewhat?

    Will you join those of us supporting the Open Primary initiative on the November ballot and allow ALL voters to vote in a Open Primary rather than keep this corrupt system where Parties decided whether or not independents can or cannot vote? 

    And will you agree, as befits Libertarians principles, that state financial underwriting of the election of a private club (a political party) is wrong? 

    And will you agree that the current system whereby political parties “own” slots on the general election ballot is wrong,  in a state in which the second largest voting group have decided, as individuals, not to be affiliated with any political party?  How can they have a candidate running for Governor who only needs 174 nominating signatures and an independent candidate needs about 30,000?  That’s state sponsorship and government tilting the playing field.

    Ted Downing

    http://www.TedDowning.com

    • http://profiles.google.com/junegenis June Genis

      If the AZ “open primary” is modeled after CA’s prop 14 it is a very bad idea.  It will virtually eliminate all candidates of minor parties like the Libertarians from appearing on the November ballot when many more people vote than at the primary.  Just look at the data from CA’s most recent election to confirm that.

      A much better way of allowing independents a larger say is to eliminate the primary and hold an instant-run-off election in November. By allowing everyone to rank 3 or more candidates and eliminating the last place finisher in each round of counting, a winner is ultimately produced with the broadest support possible.

      An added benefit is that since the ultimate victor may need second and third place choices to win, the election becomes much more civil with candidates building coalitions with other like minded candidates rather than slinging mud at them.

      • http://www.facebook.com/ted.downing Ted Downing

        In a Top Two Primary system NO party is on the general election ballot – Libertarian, Democrat or Republican or Purple People Eaters. That’s the whole point.  Why should the taxpayers who are independents, like me, pay for a private club’s election?  The candidate’s preference may be listed…but the political parties no longer own the ballot slots. 

        The Top 2 system has been battle tested for 100 years in Arizona municipal and school district elections. Rank Choice Voting has not.  Nonetheless, the Arizona initiative leaves open the opportunities for towns to use voting systems like Rank Choice Voting – should they so wish. 

  • http://profiles.google.com/junegenis June Genis

    I agree that the parties, not taxpayers, should pay the costs of choosing who will represent their party.  Libertarians thus prefer to nominate in conventions where the attendees pay the full cost of the process.  If parties prefer to have a primary they could conduct it themselves or agree to reimburse the state for the cost.  A single IRV election in November would also save the full cost to the state of holding any primary.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Winger/730155688 Richard Winger

    By federal law, since 1872, election day in the United States is November of even-numbered years.  No state has the authority to change that.  Top-two systems provide that in the election itself, only two candidates may run.  But the general election belongs to all voters, not just voters who want to vote for the two most popular candidates.  Top-two, by cutting voter choice in the election itself, is a highly authoritarian and unequal system that has no respect for political minorities.

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