Posted by Russell Daniels on August 18, 2019 at 9:33 PM

Democrats should open Arizona's 2020 presidential primary to independent voters

written by Adrian Fontes for AZ Central

Two things happened the day after Arizona’s disastrous 2016 presidential preference election: 

• I decided to run for Maricopa County recorder, the office that runs these elections.
• Gov. Doug Ducey called for allowing Arizona's independent (or No Party Designated) voters to be allowed to vote in that election as they do in other primary elections.

The governor and I may disagree on other policy matters, but we shared an observation that day. We saw eligible U.S. citizens denied the right to vote, and we agreed that this is wrong.

I still stand firm on the principle I did then, but with more urgency. It's time for my party, the Arizona Democratic Party, to open the 2020 presidential primary to independent voters.

Elections should have 1 set of rules

The biggest threat to our elections is misinformation.

Because of our odd primary systems – we allow independents to vote in federal, state and local primary elections but not in the presidential primary – Arizona creates unnecessary confusion and misinformation. The 2016 election is the case in point.

We should have one set of rules for all primaries.

It's possible that the Democratic Party’s nominee will be the next president of the United States. Arizona’s independent voters must have a say in the selection of a nominee where any party has a contest.

The presidential primary is a taxpayer-funded election for a private political party. If the Democrats – and Republicans, for that matter – want a private election, they should pay for it. It is wrong for Arizona to exclude one-third of taxpaying voters, essentially forcing independents to change their party affiliation to participate.

Democrats should be more democratic

The decision to open the presidential primary to independents is politically significant for both parties. The notions of party-building and exclusivity ring loudly with partisans. But the exodus of voters over time proves that party loyalty is less important than it once was. Arizona’s independence defines the Grand Canyon state.

Lastly, a closed presidential primary presents an interesting tension between two fundamental rights, the First Amendment right of people to associate in private organizations – as our political parties do – and the right of citizens to vote in elections for our leaders. But courts across the U.S. have already ruled. If a party asks to open a closed primary, even where there is a state law to the contrary, independent voters end up winning.

And voting.

As the Jewish scholar Hillel once said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am for myself only, what am I?”