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Armstrong helps craft
primary system that works for Washington
Rep. Mike
Armstrong,
R-Wenatchee, said he’s pleased the Legislature will adjourn today with a
solution for Washington voters, and that a primary election will indeed
occur this September. The Senate passed Armstrong’s modified
legislation, ESB 6453, yesterday by a 3 to 1 margin. It now goes to the
governor, who has 20 days to sign it.
“From the time I started working on this problem last fall, I knew we
had to have a primary solution that folks from both sides of the aisle
could get behind,” said Armstrong. “My goal has always been to protect
voters’ privacy and make sure that any solution could withstand
additional court battles. That’s particularly challenging since no one
can agree on just which legal argument will prevail,” said Armstrong.
“It required a careful balance, to say the least. I’m thrilled I could
help craft the compromise legislation that ultimately passed muster with
voters, political parties, the Secretary of State, House and Senate. I
urge Governor Locke to join us in supporting this bill.”
“Representative Mike Armstrong is to be commended for his critical role
in the passage of this legislation," said Secretary of State Sam Reed,
Washington's chief elections officer. “His actions represent not only
the will of his own constituents, but every voter in the state.”
Lawmakers knew they would
have to address the issue of the state’s blanket primary this session,
after the U.S. Circuit Court declared it illegal. The Senate weighed in
first and passed a pure “Top 2” system with few votes to spare, and sent
it to the House for consideration. It was then that Armstrong attached
his amendment, which is credited with keeping the legislation alive, and
will trigger a Montana-style primary if the Top 2 system can’t be
successfully defended in court.
Armstrong said, “We knew the legal process around the blanket primary
would continue even after we passed this measure, so I designed my
amendment to withstand that process and leave the voters with an
opportunity to cast ballots come September.”
Now the political parties and the Secretary of State, represented by the
Attorney General, will return to U.S. District Court for the purpose of
ending the lawsuit filed in 2000.
If the federal court finds the Top 2 system constitutional, that will be
the new primary system used in Washington. “This system is very close to
the blanket primary,” said Armstrong. “With this legislation, voters may
choose any candidate they wish, no one has to declare party affiliation
and votes stay private.”
“If the Top 2 system can’t be defended, the legislation calls for an
open primary with private choice,” continued Armstrong. “Voters would
see party affiliations on the ballot behind candidates’ names, as in our
old system. They would have to choose candidates from only one party,
but would not have to register with a party, and their votes would
remain private. This is called a Montana-style primary, and I believe
it’s the next best thing to the blanket primary, after the Top 2.”
In a letter to House Republicans, Chris Vance, Chairman of the
Republican Party in Washington, thanked Armstrong for his work in
crafting the legislation, saying “the amendment offered by Mike
Armstrong significantly improved the bill.”
“In the end, it was about coming together as lawmakers and fellow
colleagues,” said Armstrong. We knew we had a tough row to hoe from the
beginning, and I always held out for a compromise that would work for
everyone involved. What a great way to cap off our job here in Olympia!”
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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