By Grange Master - Krist Novoselic
I’m going to express some personal opinions regarding
Grange matters that do not necessarily speak for the Grays River Grange.
As you might be aware, the Washington State Grange was the
sponsor of I-872, the Top-Two primary. I-872 passed in 2004 with over 59
percent of the vote.
I attribute this strong showing over widespread
dissatisfaction with the Pick-A-Party primary ballot. Voters hated the party
sections in the primary and went for the first real proposal that came along. Indeed,
voters want wide open choices and I fully concur with this.
The issue of political
association became a problem with I-872 and it went to court. It was struck
down in all the lower courts but the US Supreme Court upheld it as facially constitutional. This means the
system holds up to most precedents and legal arguments. They didn’t want to
strike down a voter initiative without seeing it in use and potentially harm our
First Amendment right of association.
I-872 is now being heard on an as applied basis. This means the plaintiffs are submitting actual
evidence. It’s been over four years since the first complaint and I-872 is
starting the legal process all over again!
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