Arizona Independents Reach out to 2020 Presidential Candidates

Posted by Sarah Lyons on September 03, 2019 at 10:16 AM

Independent voters in Arizona have sent letters to each presidential candidate outlining the looming voting rights injustice in which one third of the state’s voters will be denied the right to vote in the primary election because they are independents. 

The letter notes that independents are permitted to vote in every other primary and general election held in Arizona and that exclusion from voting in the Democratic Presidential Preference Election is “punitive and arbitrary.”  It also states that the “exclusion can be corrected by simple action of the Arizona Democratic Party. 

The letter was signed by independent voting activists in Arizona and a representative of Independent Voting, a national association of independents with organization in 40 states.

It reads:

Dear _______:

On March 17, 2020 the Arizona Democratic Party will hold its presidential primary, known as the Presidential Preference Election (“PPE”). The Arizona Republican Party has closed ranks behind Donald Trump and decided not to hold a primary. However, as currently designed, the Democratic PPE will exclude fully one third (34%) of the state’s electorate from participating. These voters (1,267,340 as of July 1, 2019) are registered independents. As you may be aware, independents are permitted to vote in every other primary and general election held in Arizona. Thus, their exclusion from voting in the Democratic Presidential Preference Election is punitive and arbitrary. The good news is that this exclusion can be corrected by a simple action of the Arizona Democratic Party.

As Deadline Looms, Maricopa County Recorder Fontes Presses Dems to Open Presidential Primary

Posted by Danny Battista on August 26, 2019 at 1:24 PM

As Deadline Looms,  Maricopa County Recorder Fontes
Presses Arizona Democrats to Open the
Democratic Presidential Primary
to Independent Voters

Independents’ Meeting with Arizona Democratic Party
Chair Felecia Rotellini & Secretary of State Katie Hobbs
Proved Promising

Calling open primaries a reform whose time has come, Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes pressed the Democratic Party of Arizona to open the 2020 Presidential Preference Election to independents in a recent opinion piece published in The Arizona Republic. One third of Arizona voters are registered as independents and are currently barred from voting. Independents can vote in all other elections. 

Fontes previewed his support for open primaries back in May tweeting: “Independent voters should be allowed to vote in AZ’s Presidential Preference Election next March...particularly because their taxpayer dollars fund it. Fair is fair.”  In his op-ed, Fontes went further giving rationale for his support, addressing pragmatic issues in the political relationship between the Democratic Party and independent voters, and expressing the desire to avoid the mishap which marred Arizona’s 2016 presidential primary.

Maricopa County Recorder: Democrats should open Arizona's 2020 presidential primary to independent voters

Posted by Danny Battista on August 07, 2019 at 6:01 AM

Opinion: Adrian Fontes - August 7, 2019

It makes no sense to let independents vote in every primary election except the one for president.

Two things happened the day after Arizona’s disastrous 2016 presidential preference election: 

• I decided to run for Maricopa County recorder, the office that runs these elections.
• Gov. Doug Ducey called for allowing Arizona's independent (or No Party Designated) voters to be allowed to vote in that election as they do in other primary elections.

Arizona Capital Times Opinion: Everyone should have a vote in the presidential preference election

Posted by Danny Battista on June 10, 2019 at 10:00 AM

Omaha World-Herald Opinion: Independent voters help win elections

Posted by Danny Battista on April 24, 2019 at 11:15 AM

Cathy Stewart and Jane Kleeb - April 24, 2019

We are two women — one an independent and one a Democrat, one from New York and the other from Nebraska — who are perhaps unlikely political collaborators, but we share a view on a critical democracy issue.

Arizona Capital Times Opinion: Independent voters silenced in Presidential Preference elections

Posted by Danny Battista on February 25, 2019 at 12:15 PM

AZ lawmaker wants to give independents a say in 2020 presidential primary

Posted by Danny Battista on January 22, 2019 at 10:42 AM

Derek Staahl - January 22, 2019

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - At least seven big-name Democrats have now entered the race for president, but when the 2020 presidential primary rolls around, about one-third of Arizona’s electorate won’t be allowed to vote.

That’s because unlike other primaries, state law prevents independents from voting in the Presidential Preference Election. A newly introduced bill by Democratic state Sen. Martin Quezada aims to change that.

Quezada’s bill, SB 1057, would change the Presidential Preference Election to an open primary system, which would no longer limit it to registered members of a party.

Activist group sues to force open primaries

Posted by Danny Battista on November 14, 2018 at 8:05 AM

David Siders - November 14, 2018

Proponents of open primaries are mounting a new line of attack in their effort to weaken political parties’ grip on American elections.

The New York-based Open Primaries Education Fund, representing four voters in New Mexico, said it filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing closed primaries — primary elections that limit participation to registered party members — constitute an illegal gift of public funds. Such primaries, they claim, benefit political parties while disenfranchising independent voters.

In Arizona, courting the independent vote requires a new playbook

Posted by Danny Battista on October 19, 2018 at 6:10 PM

Daniel Bush - October 19, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Tim Castro’s cellphone was blowing up. President Donald Trump had just mocked Christine Blasey Ford at a campaign rally, questioning her sexual assault allegation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. It was early October, and Kavanaugh’s fate remained in doubt, the final Senate vote still days away.

Are independent voters being left out of city elections?

Posted by Danny Battista on March 26, 2018 at 2:09 PM

Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, The Republic | azcentral.com - March 26, 2019

Chandler voters will decide on city leaders this year, but some worry independent voters aren't getting a fair shake. 

Here's why:

Chandler and many other Arizona cities will hold elections in August that coincide with statewide primary races. To vote in the partisan state races, voters must decide whether they want a Republican or Democratic ballot. Independent voters on the early voting roster do not automatically get primary ballots sent to them like committed Republicans or Democratss. They must reach out to clarify which ballot they want.