The push to close primaries in Tennessee is dead for the year, a legislative source says.
SB 0772 aims to require a voter to declare a statewide political party affiliation before voting in a primary. That bill was assigned March 20 to the Senate’s General Subcommittee of the State and Local Government Committee.
However, Pamela McCary, legislative assistant to State Rep. Tim Wirgau, said on March 21 that it has not been moved onto the calendar in the House, so that chamber cannot take action on it this year. Wirgau, R-Buchanan, is chairman of the Local Government Committee in the House.
There has been a lot of “buzz” on the topic for some reason, despite the status in the House, she said.
The House bill number is HB 0887.
Also on March 21, the main sponsor of the House bill changed from Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, to Rep. Tilman Goins, R-Morristown. Williams is still a co-sponsor.
State Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, is the Senate sponsor.
The state is overriding Republican in the first place, but let’s look at the reasons why those conceiving control would want to close the primaries against a long standing practice of voting for individuals instead of parties, primary or otherwise…Money and greed of power. Open primaries are the only means by which a few can voice dissension either way.. The only possible way that maybe totally irresponsible people do not relegate our great state to wackadoodles. The only manner, in which citizens can choose which person, regardless of party may have honor and integrity, democrat or republican. There are a few good Republicans with honor and who care about civil rights for all minorities, insuring equal treatment and job equity for physically challenged, women, and LGBT. Who care about healthcare and controlling costs by hospitals, doctors and big pharma.. There are also those Democrats who are Christian, follow the golden rule, are compassionate and cherish the constitution and laws of the land.
I say no to closing the primaries and yes to ranked voting, yes to fair redistricting, and no to disenfranchising or otherwise depressing voting rights.
Why in the world would we want the mandate that we be restricted to one party or the other? This then mandates that one conform to ideals of the party affiliation. NOW WE THE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER BEING GIVEN A CHOICE, BUT BEING TOLD HOW WE THINK. I as a “Citizen” of the USA should not have to choose a political party, except as an option of my own conscience. Damn, now we can obtain through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) the voting records of a given area, state, or federal election and TARGET particular individuals per their party affiliations. REALLY, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO BENEFIT OR MORE SO WHO? I have no problem with a FREE UNBIASED OPINION, but DO NOT TELL ME that I must choose a political party.
The citizens want the bill passed. The legislators in charge….don’t.
It makes too much sense for the bill to move forward. I didn’t have much hope it would. I contacted my state representative Oct 2017. The reply I received was not very positive. Too much ‘good ole boy’ ‘back room’ politics.