GOP debates closing primary
GOP debates closing primary
By LEE BANDY
lbandy@thestate.com
Since 1980, South Carolina Republicans have used the open primary process to build the party into the political force it is today.
Now, some in the party want to close it, making it tougher for independents, disenchanted Democrats and mischief makers to cross over and vote in the GOP contests.
Some legislative leaders are lukewarm to the idea. But other party leaders are out to replace the “y’all come” invitation with a members-only sign.
The move is “a degree of arrogance” on the part of Republicans, said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen, a Republican activist and consultant.
“They rose to power on it,” Thigpen said, referring to the open primary. “Now, they want to close it.”
South Carolina is one of 20 states allowing open primaries. In such contests, voters are free to choose the party ballot they want.
If S.C. Republican leaders have their way, voters would have to swear their loyalty to the GOP before participating in the primary, a move designed to discourage Democrats from crossing over to create mischief.
In theory, the Democratic mischief makers cross over to the GOP’s primary and cast their ballots for the weakest candidate, making it easier for the Democratic candidate to win in the general election. But studies show such voters account for only about 2 percent of primary voters at most.
Still, GOP leaders want to close their party’s primary.
“The time has come for people to stand up,” said state GOP Chairman Katon Dawson, who favors a closed primary. “It’s time for the debate.”
The 2004 state Republican convention voted overwhelmingly for closed primaries, with 58 percent of the delegates favoring voter registration by party.
“It’s time,” Dawson said.
For the last six years, the Republican-dominated General Assembly has failed to adopt legislation to end open primaries.
State Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, chairman of the election laws subcommittee, shows little enthusiasm for closed primaries or registration by party.
“South Carolina has a pretty rich tradition of independence when it comes to voting in primaries,” he said. “Closed primaries take a lot of folks out of both parties, probably more out of the Republican Party. I don’t know that would be healthy to our political process.”
House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Harrison, R-Richland, doesn’t hold out much hope for party registration either.
“It has been before a subcommittee and debated for at least six years, maybe longer,” he said. “Nothing ever comes of it.”
Drew McKissick, a GOP consultant with close ties to the conservative religious community, admonished Republican legislators “to get with the program and get it passed.”
But Dan Ross, former state Republican chairman from Blackville, is opposed vehemently to party registration.
He noted the party has collected more than 600,000 names, thanks to the open primary. “That’s a gold mine.”
State Democratic chairman Joe Erwin, of Greenville, sees no need for party registration.
“One of the things South Carolinians value is their independence. We’ve always been a very independent-minded people,” Erwin said, citing exit polls showing 28 percent of the state’s voters called themselves independents in the last election..
“If that’s true, why cut them out of the process?” Erwin asked. “By being open, we encourage more participation.”
Greg Shorey, former state chairman from Beaufort, has led the fight for registration since the late 1950s.
“By what right do I have intruding into the candidate selection process of another political party?” he asked.
“We’ve become of age now in helping develop a viable two-party state. It’s time we matured and grow up. We’re no longer a minority,” Shorey said of the state GOP.
Shorey also had a word of warning for reluctant legislators.
“They’d better wake up,” he said. “Their jobs are now in jeopardy.”
S.C. parties could be forced to close their primaries. In a federal court case yet to be decided, the Virginia GOP contends open primaries are unconstitutional.
Added Shorey: “If we don’t settle this legislatively, it’s going to be settled in court, and it will be expensive and an embarrassment.”
By LEE BANDY
lbandy@thestate.com
Since 1980, South Carolina Republicans have used the open primary process to build the party into the political force it is today.
Now, some in the party want to close it, making it tougher for independents, disenchanted Democrats and mischief makers to cross over and vote in the GOP contests.
Some legislative leaders are lukewarm to the idea. But other party leaders are out to replace the “y’all come” invitation with a members-only sign.
The move is “a degree of arrogance” on the part of Republicans, said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen, a Republican activist and consultant.
“They rose to power on it,” Thigpen said, referring to the open primary. “Now, they want to close it.”
South Carolina is one of 20 states allowing open primaries. In such contests, voters are free to choose the party ballot they want.
If S.C. Republican leaders have their way, voters would have to swear their loyalty to the GOP before participating in the primary, a move designed to discourage Democrats from crossing over to create mischief.
In theory, the Democratic mischief makers cross over to the GOP’s primary and cast their ballots for the weakest candidate, making it easier for the Democratic candidate to win in the general election. But studies show such voters account for only about 2 percent of primary voters at most.
Still, GOP leaders want to close their party’s primary.
“The time has come for people to stand up,” said state GOP Chairman Katon Dawson, who favors a closed primary. “It’s time for the debate.”
The 2004 state Republican convention voted overwhelmingly for closed primaries, with 58 percent of the delegates favoring voter registration by party.
“It’s time,” Dawson said.
For the last six years, the Republican-dominated General Assembly has failed to adopt legislation to end open primaries.
State Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, chairman of the election laws subcommittee, shows little enthusiasm for closed primaries or registration by party.
“South Carolina has a pretty rich tradition of independence when it comes to voting in primaries,” he said. “Closed primaries take a lot of folks out of both parties, probably more out of the Republican Party. I don’t know that would be healthy to our political process.”
House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Harrison, R-Richland, doesn’t hold out much hope for party registration either.
“It has been before a subcommittee and debated for at least six years, maybe longer,” he said. “Nothing ever comes of it.”
Drew McKissick, a GOP consultant with close ties to the conservative religious community, admonished Republican legislators “to get with the program and get it passed.”
But Dan Ross, former state Republican chairman from Blackville, is opposed vehemently to party registration.
He noted the party has collected more than 600,000 names, thanks to the open primary. “That’s a gold mine.”
State Democratic chairman Joe Erwin, of Greenville, sees no need for party registration.
“One of the things South Carolinians value is their independence. We’ve always been a very independent-minded people,” Erwin said, citing exit polls showing 28 percent of the state’s voters called themselves independents in the last election..
“If that’s true, why cut them out of the process?” Erwin asked. “By being open, we encourage more participation.”
Greg Shorey, former state chairman from Beaufort, has led the fight for registration since the late 1950s.
“By what right do I have intruding into the candidate selection process of another political party?” he asked.
“We’ve become of age now in helping develop a viable two-party state. It’s time we matured and grow up. We’re no longer a minority,” Shorey said of the state GOP.
Shorey also had a word of warning for reluctant legislators.
“They’d better wake up,” he said. “Their jobs are now in jeopardy.”
S.C. parties could be forced to close their primaries. In a federal court case yet to be decided, the Virginia GOP contends open primaries are unconstitutional.
Added Shorey: “If we don’t settle this legislatively, it’s going to be settled in court, and it will be expensive and an embarrassment.”
posted by SCGOP at 6:41 AM
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