NEWS RELEASE
------------------------
September 15, 2004
I-872 Popularity Surges in
Wake of Restrictive Primary
The Washington State Grange
announced in a Sept. 15 press conference with Secretary of State Sam Reed that
it fully expects the people to pass Initiative Measure 872 (dubbed the “People’s
Choice” initiative) into law at the November general election.
The Grange noted that, while
turnout was not as low as expected, 79 percent of those surveyed in exit
polling by Stuart Elway during the Sept. 14 primary
indicated that they opposed the new primary system, which forces citizens to
vote a straight party ticket. In addition, Grange Elections Specialist Don
Whiting did note that turnout appeared to have decreased by approximately 30
percent from what one would normally expect during a presidential election
year.
“That means, in effect, that
about 350,000 voters in the state of
Whiting also indicated that
third parties were actually hurt under this primary process.
“The third parties – the
Libertarians in this case – have been severely disadvantaged by this form of
primary,” he said. “At this point – based on the unofficial returns – they do
not have a candidate for U.S. Senate, and they do not have a candidate for the
governorship. And most of their other candidates for statewide offices are
holding on by a thread.
“But behind all of this,”
Whiting continued, “is the very simple fact that voters – when they went to the
polls or opened their absentee ballots to vote – found out that, in many cases,
they could not vote for all the candidates they wanted to. Initiative 872
solves exactly that problem. It gives back to voters in this state the right to
vote for whatever candidates they want to in the primary.”
Reed also addressed the media
during the press conference, echoing many of Whiting’s
sentiments and expressing his personal support of the initiative.
“What is interesting in terms
of the passion of the response that all of us have heard throughout the last
month,” said Reed, “is that there was a sense of an encroachment upon the
freedom of the individual to choose whoever she or he wanted to vote for. That
is what Initiative 872 solves. I commend the Washington State Grange for their
effort. They’re out there championing this cause for the people of the state of
“Initiative 872 would return
us to a primary system where you can vote for the person, not the party,”
continued Reed. “I’m here today on my own time as private citizen Sam Reed to
express my support for Initiative 872. I believe this is best for the people of
the state of
Finally, Grange President
Terry Hunt expressed to reporters his gratitude for being able to side with
“We are proud to be able to bring this to the people so they can have the choice,” said Hunt. “I want to thank Sam for his encouragement and his work with us today.”