Washington State Major Parties Sue to Retain Elections for Party Committee Officers

On December 22, the Washington state Democratic and Republican Parties filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing that the state must provide elections in 2012 for Precinct Committee officers. The case will be heard on March 23, 2012, at 9 a.m., in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia. The case is Washington State Democratic Central Committee v Washington Secretary of State.

Washington state election laws say these elections should be held for qualified parties. Only the Democratic and Republican Parties are ballot-qualified. The state had intended to hold these elections simultaneously with a March presidential primary, but then the state decided not to hold a presidential primary, and it canceled plans for elections for party office as well.

The state formerly held Precinct Committee Officer elections at the general election, but a U.S. District Court ruled last year that electing party officers in the general election violates freedom of association for those parties, because in effect the entire electorate, not just party members, were choosing party officers.

The other two states with top-two election systems, Louisiana and California, continue to hold elections for party officers. Louisiana and California use elections in which only party members can vote on party officers. It is easier for Louisiana and California to do this, than it is for Washington state, because Louisiana and California still hold presidential primaries simultaneously with the party officer elections.

Source: http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/12/26/washington-state-major-parties-sue-to-retain-elections-for-party-committee-officers/

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