Passed 8/11/2014 39 -4
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CLOSED PRIMARIES
WHEREAS, the South Carolina Republican Party is made up of citizens who share values of limited government, balanced budgets, lower taxes and free enterprise, and wish to choose candidates who reflect those values; and
WHEREAS, the current South Carolina election laws permit any citizen to vote in the primary election of any political party; and
WHEREAS, the South Carolina Republican Party, as the majority party, is vulnerable to those who wish to assume affiliation with the Republican party to run for office, but do not support its principles; and
WHEREAS, the South Carolina Republican Party supports efforts to promote the integrity of the election process; and
WHEREAS, the South Carolina Republican Party supports allowing voters to designate a political party on their voter registration application; and
WHEREAS, the South Carolina Republican Party believes political parties have the right to choose their own nominees; and
WHEREAS, the South Carolina Republican Party supports primaries that are open only to registered voters of that political party;
THEREFORE, the Charleston County Republican Party calls on Representatives Robert L. Brown, William E. “Bill” Crosby, Wendell G. Gilliard, Stephen Goldfinch, Jr., Robert W. Harrell, Jr., Jenny A. Horne, Harry B. “Chip” Limehouse III, David J. Mack III, Peter M. McCoy, Jr., James H. Merrill, Samuel Rivers, Jr., F. Michael “Mike” Sottile, Leonidas E. “Leon” Stavrinakis, and J. Seth Whipper, Senators Sean Bennett, Paul G. Campbell, Jr., George E. “Chip” Campsen III, Raymond E. Cleary III, Lawrence K. “Larry” Grooms, Marlon E. Kimpson, Clementa C. Pinckney, and Paul Thurmond to file legislation in the 121st General Assembly, beginning January 2014 and ending June 2015, that provides for the registration of voters by the political party of their choice; and for those voters to participate only in the primary elections of the party for which they are registered. Additionally, we call on Governor Nikki Haley to sign the aforementioned party registration and closed primary legislation into law by June 2015.
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