A proposal to open New Mexico’s primary elections to independent voters survived – just barely – its first challenge in the state Senate.
The bill made it out of the Senate Rules Committee on Monday without a recommendation and now heads to the Judiciary Committee, potentially its last stop before reaching the Senate floor. But that was only after a motion to recommend passage of the bill failed on a tie vote. A similar proposal, meanwhile, is also advancing through the House, though it has not yet reached the floor. Monday’s action centered on Senate Bill 205, sponsored by Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales.
The bill would allow people who decline to state a party affiliation – independents, as they’re often called – to participate in a primary election. About one in five New Mexico voters falls into that category. Sapien’s proposal wouldn’t allow people to cross party lines. In other words, Democrats or Libertarians couldn’t opt to vote in the Republican primary.
Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, said the proposal would encourage voter participation in primary elections and force the major parties to pay more attention to young people, who are more likely to register as independents.
Full Article: Open primary bill moves forward in Senate | Albuquerque Journal.