Calderon introduces open primary legislation

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assembly Member Charles Calderon (D-Montebello) introduced Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 6, the Voter Choice Act.  The measure would reintroduce an open primary system for all statewide offices in California. 

In 1998, the electorate overwhelmingly approved open primaries by passing Proposition 198 with nearly 60% of the vote.  Open primaries survived one legislative election cycle until June 26, 2000, when the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in California Democratic Party, et. al. v. Jones, stating that California's "open" primary system, established by Proposition 198, was unconstitutional because it violated a political party's First Amendment right of association. This effectively ended the open primary at the state level on constitutional grounds.

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