The Conservative Women’s Action Network is supporting and advocating for a change to Tennessee laws regarding primary elections. We are supporting Debra Maggart and Bill Ketron’s bill (HB 0629/SB 0544)to require persons registering to vote to declare political party for voting in primary elections.

It is Time To Change The Way We Vote – Closed Primaries

As the country seems obsessed with the need for change, an area needs changing here in Tennessee. In some states, party membership actually means something. Why is it more meaningful? Because when you vote in a state that has a closed primary election voters stand shoulder to shoulder with like-minded individuals who are committed enough to a party to declare it on a voter registration. Yes, that is right: a closed primary. When you go to the polls for a primary, you should know that your party’s members are choosing your party’s candidates for the general election. There should be no members of the opposing party trying to manipulate the outcome. There should be no undeclared or independent voter s unless the party opts to open the primary to them. Why? At the end of a primary election day, for better or for worse, your party has spoken for itself.

A state has a more general, but equally legitimate, interest in protecting the overall integrity of the electoral process. Parties should be able to avoid primary election outcomes that will confuse or mislead the general electorate to the extent it relies on party labels as representative of certain ideologies; and preventing fraudulent and deceptive conduct, which scars the nominating process. Nader v. Schaffer, 417 F.Supp. 837, 845 (1976). The state has a legitimate interest in protecting party members’ associational rights, by legislating to “protect the party from intrusion by those with adverse political principles”. Ray v. Blair, 343 U.S. 214, 221-22 (1952). Primary election results (should be) a reflection of the will of party members, unblemished by the votes of those unconcerned with, if not actually hostile to, the principles, philosophies and goals of the party. Rosario v. Rockefeller, 458 F.2d 649, 652 (2d Cir. 1972).

In addition, a party could potentially save thousands of dollars each year because it would not have to call a special convention to hold elections for state and county party offices. By having a closed primary, it would be possible to take care of party business on the primary ballot. For example, executive board member candidates could be added to a state or county primary ballot. Delegates to national conventions are already selected this way in Tennessee.

Handling party business on the primary ballot could increase the number of people involved in the process of choosing party leaders. Increased participation keeps the party from becoming stale with the same people having a stranglehold on leadership year after year, decade after decade.

Tennessee, it is time for Change! Committed party members deserve the right to choose their candidates without outside manipulation. It is time to declare what party you belong to and it is time for closed primary elections.

News release from CWAN
February 20, 2009

Tennessee, CWAN, Closed Primary, HB 0629, SB 0544, Debra Maggart, Bill Ketron, TN Election Laws