Open Primaries, IVP and the Forward Party File Brief with the US Supreme Court Challenging Closed Primaries
Two weeks ago, Open Primaries and the Independent Voter Project (IVP) were joined by the Forward Party and Florida Forward Party in submitting an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court in support of a writ of certiorari for Polelle v. Florida Secretary of State ; a case that challenged Florida’s closed primaries which shut out 4 million independent voters.
For those of us that may be unfamiliar with the Supreme Court processes, a writ of certiorari is a request to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case. The Supreme Court selects the cases that they will take up.
In their amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to review the Florida case, the legal team declare:
This is such critical framing. Put another way later in the brief: |
The IVP and Open Primaries have been leading the fight to take primary reform to court. In 2014, IVP and Independent Voting challenged the constitutionality of New Jersey’s closed primary system. That same year, IVP also challenged California’s unconstitutional use of semi-closed primaries in presidential elections. This year, Open Primaries filed a lawsuit in Maryland and has supported legal efforts against closed primaries in Oregon, Pennsylvania , and Wyoming .
Having an ongoing litigation strategy and platform are a critical component in any movement for social change and this year has seen tremendous developments on this terrain.
The amicus brief offers a new resource to the movement, exploring the many open questions of law that American courts have failed to address when it comes to independent voters and offering new framings in the fight to let all voters vote. Even if you have never read a legal brief in your life, you are going to want to read this one!
You can read the full brief HERE. Send me a note and let me know what you think or if you have any questions (cstewart@openprimaries.org).
Having an ongoing litigation strategy and platform are a critical component in any movement for social change and this year has seen tremendous developments on this terrain. Stay Tuned.
One of the challenges we face as independents is the bias against us. Over and over, The pundits say “independents are a myth” and define us out of existence by insisting we are “leaners.” How bogus can you get!!!!
The pollsters never ask us a simple question: “why are you independent and what do you think about the current political scene?”
Shocking when you stop to consider that we are 43% of all voters!
Let’s change that.
This fall we are putting our own survey into the field. We want to know how independents – including you – think our country is doing.
We need your help to do this.
To conduct this survey we need to raise $5850 by October 5th.
Your tax free donation to the Open Primaries Education Fund will help continue to build the voice of independents like you. Please help today with a donation of $25, $50, $100 or $250!
Help us ask thousands of people like you why they are independent and promote the results.
