SC Republicans File Federal Lawsuit Seeking to Close Primary Elections
The party says open primaries let nonmembers dilute its nominees and asks a federal court to enforce its new membership-only rule.
- On July 4, the South Carolina Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit against the South Carolina State Election Commission, seeking to restrict primary election participation exclusively to registered Republicans.
- Party leaders argue the current "open primary" system violates their First Amendment freedom of association, citing years of failed legislative efforts to establish partisan voter registration.
- "We're declaring our independence from a system that forces us to allow Democrats to participate in choosing our nominees," SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick said, comparing current rules to allowing rival sports fans to select players.
- Executive Director Conway Belangia and commission members are named as defendants in the suit, though Belangia declined to comment on the pending litigation when reached on July 8.
- This legal effort mirrors similar trends in Texas and Idaho, following a decade of unsuccessful attempts to work with the General Assembly on partisan voter registration.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Hanford Sentinel
Lodinews.comSouth Carolina Republican Party sues in federal court in move to allow for closed primaries
COLUMBIA, S.C. — An effort to close the state’s primaries is now headed to a federal court. The South Carolina Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit late Tuesday against the South Carolina Election Commission for not registerng people by party.…
SCGOP files lawsuit to limit primary voting to registered Republicans
The South Carolina Republican Party has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to change who can vote in Republican primary elections, arguing that the state’s open primary system violates the party’s First Amendment rights.
scdailygazette.com
pmg-sc.comSC GOP sues to close primaries to registered Republicans
South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick, pictured Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, is suing the state to allow only Republicans to elect Republican nominees for office. (File/Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Republican Party sued Wednesday to close primary elections after legislation requiring a closed system failed to advance at the Statehouse this year. The party has been pushing for years to requ…
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