Post by Logan on Apr 3, 2017 5:30:08 GMT -6
State Senate Democrats are blocking a bill introduced by a Republican that would switch from partisan to open primaries, allowing all registered voters regardless of party in Nevada to participate.
Senate Bill 103 introduced by state Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, would have created an open primary process where the top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election. Currently, Nevada holds partisan primaries where only registered party members can vote, essentially keeping around 28 percent of registered voters – about 413,000 people – from participating.
Despite Democrats’ policy outline – called the “Nevada Blueprint” – expressly stating they would “Fight to ensure that voting is free, fair, and accessible for all eligible voters in Nevada,” Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, said Settelmeyer’s bill won't get a hearing.
“We don’t feel it’s worthy of a hearing. Next question,” Ford said during media availability on Friday, cutting off the inquiry as to why he felt that way.
Read more: www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/27/nevada-democrats-block-open-primary-bill/99701074/
Senate Bill 103 introduced by state Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, would have created an open primary process where the top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election. Currently, Nevada holds partisan primaries where only registered party members can vote, essentially keeping around 28 percent of registered voters – about 413,000 people – from participating.
Despite Democrats’ policy outline – called the “Nevada Blueprint” – expressly stating they would “Fight to ensure that voting is free, fair, and accessible for all eligible voters in Nevada,” Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, said Settelmeyer’s bill won't get a hearing.
“We don’t feel it’s worthy of a hearing. Next question,” Ford said during media availability on Friday, cutting off the inquiry as to why he felt that way.
Read more: www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/27/nevada-democrats-block-open-primary-bill/99701074/