FINDLAW:Daily Opinion Summaries for U.S. Supreme Court - 03/18/08

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, ELECTIONS, GOVERNMENT LAW

Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, No. 06-713, 06-730

Contrary to the Ninth Circuit’s holding below, a 2004 initiative passed by Washington voters changing the state’s primary election system is facially constitutional. The initiative, I-872, provided that: 1) candidates must be identified on the primary ballot by their self-designated party preference; 2) voters may vote for any candidate; and 3) the two top votegetters for each office, regardless of party preference, advance to the general election.