Push for Open Primary Election Under Way Again in Arizona
Posted by Caitlin Kelly on July 02, 2015 at 3:05 PM
This article was published by Zachary Ziegler in the Arizona Public Media.
Another push is under way for open primary elections in Arizona, with plans to put it before voters in 2016.
Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson is heading a campaign that would put all candidates on one ballot for primary elections, regardless of party.The two candidates receiving the most votes would face off in the general election.
Johnson led the push to put the top-two system on the 2012 ballot, and voters rejected it by a two-to-one margin.
He thinks putting a top-two ballot measure in front of Arizona voters in 2016 would have different results.
“The grassroots, nonpartisan movement is really a nationwide effort," Johnson said. "We’re not the only state that will be pushing this.”
California, Washington and Louisiana use a top-two system for primary elections for all state offices and congressional seats. Nebraska uses a top-two nonpartisan system for primary legislative elections.
Open Primaries, a group working with Johnson, is also pushing to put a top-two primary system for Florida's 2016 ballot.