Democracy for Washington

Locke vetoes 'Top 2' primary, creates separate party voting

The Seattle Times reports that Gov. Gary Locke today used his veto power to create separate party primary elections in the state for the first time in nearly 70 years.

Locke rejected a "Top 2" primary system similar to Louisiana's primary, in which all candidates appear on the ballot and the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

Instead, he replaced Washington's popular wide-open blanket primary with a system like that used in Montana, where candidates appear on separate primary ballots, but voters choose which ballot to cast.

Locke said he opted to give voters more choices in the November election. The Top 2 system would have advanced only two candidates, likely freezing out minor parties and raising the prospect of all-Democrat or all-Republican contests in the fall.

This issue is shaping up to be a big conversation in our gubernatorial and AG races this fall. What do you think?