Some light in what has been a dark week for indies with the losses in Idaho and Massachusetts. Attorney Harry Kresky and former Democratic state legislator Fletcher Smith pushed for independents and had a court grant them a hearing to discuss closed primaries. They argued on the grounds that the GOP does not have the right to require voters to join a party.
SOUTH CAROLINA GRANTS INDEPENDENTS A SAY IN HEARING ON CLOSED PRIMARY
GOP gets expedited hearing on primary (BY ERIC CONNOR, Greenville Online) The independents – represented by New York lawyer Harry Kresky and former Greenville Democratic state legislator Fletcher Smith – said in court filings that the Republicans don't have the right to require voters to join a party or “declare themselves non-aligned.” The independents cite “the new, but growing, phenomena of significant numbers of Americans self-identifying as independents ... and the pivotal role they played in the recent presidential primaries.”
IDAHO CLOSING PRIMARIES
Idaho GOP May Allow Independents To Vote In Primaries (Jessica Robinson, KUOW.org) There's still a chance Idaho could maintain its open primary, if the state appeals. Alternatively, a coalition of independent voters says it may pursue a top-two system.
NEW YORK REDISTRICTING
Lobbyists join redistricting in N.Y. (By: Maggie Haberman, Politico) This year, there’s more pressure than usual for an open and nonpartisan process, after former Mayor Ed Koch’s group solicited signed pledges from an overwhelming number of state lawmakers and a promise from Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo to make it happen. Cuomo has introduced a bill to create an independent redistricting commission, though state Senate Republicans have so far given signals that they may not be on board, adding to the uncertainty.
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