NY Democratic Party Defeats Proposal to Allow Independents to Vote in Their Primaries

Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this post.

The New York Democratic Party held its State Convention on May 23-24.

The Delegates tabled a Resolution that would have allowed 2,387,443 Active Independent Voters as of April, 1st, 2018, to Vote in Democratic Party Primaries.

But they would have to switched to being Democrats by 25 Days before the Primary.

Parties have the right to decide to let Independent Voters vote in their Primaries, regardless of State Law of a Closed Primary State

Current New York Statutory Law says no one can Vote in a Primary, except current Members, New Registrants, and Voters who changed their Registration into the Party in the year before the Primary Election.

In 2018, the Federal Primary is June 24th, and the State and Local Primary is September 13th.

The New York State and Local Primary Ballot contains both Candidates and Party Members for County Committee, State Committee, and Party Officials. If a Party allowed Non-Party Voters to take part in their Primary, there would have to be Two separate Ballots. One for Party members and One that only contained Candidates. This would protect the Right of Association issue.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker