Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on Wednesday declined a request by Alaska Democrats to allow candidates not affiliated with a political party to run in the Democratic primary. State law requires a candidate seeking a party’s nomination to be a registered voter of that party. State party chair Casey Steinau has said that Democrats believe the law is unconstitutional and unenforceable based on research done by attorneys for the party. But Mallott, in a letter to Steinau, said it’s up to a court to decide whether a law is ultimately constitutional. The state intends to follow the law as it stands, said Mallott, who oversees elections in the state and said he consulted with Alaska’s Department of Law.
Kay Brown, the state Democratic Party’s executive director, said the party is disappointed with the decision and believe it infringes on the party’s First Amendment right to freedom of association.
Party leaders are expected in the coming days to discuss their options. The options that Brown is aware of are dropping the matter or pursuing legal action.
In January, state party leaders approved allowing unaffiliated candidates to run in their party primary and asked the state to implement the change for this year’s elections.
Full Article: Mallott rejects Democrats’ primary change | Juneau Empire – Alaska’s Capital City Online Newspaper.