The Supreme Court has declined to take a new look at Washington state’s top-two primary system amid complaints from political parties that it interferes with their rights.
The justices said they will not hear appeals from the state Democratic and Libertarian parties opposing a system that allows primary candidates to identify themselves as members of a party even when the party objects. The parties said the system could confuse voters.
But the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said there is no evidence of confusion and upheld the system. Under the top-two system, the top two finishers in a primary advance to the general election, even if they’re both Democrats or both Republicans.
The Supreme Court upheld the system in 2008 but acknowledged there could be additional challenges.
The Associated Press
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