Presidential Primary Revival Falls Apart In Colorado
DENVER (AP) - Bipartisan efforts to revive presidential primaries in Colorado have failed -- for now.
A long debate over presidential primaries in Colorado ended in failure Tuesday at the state Legislature. Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature could not agree on how to revive a statewide primary instead of precinct caucuses in 2020. With a deadline looming Tuesday, talks broke down on two separate plans to bring back primaries.
The legislative stalemate means that Coloradans could see a ballot measure this fall asking about bringing back the primaries, at a cost of about $5 million.
Colorado held presidential primaries from 1992 to 2000. But Colorado switched back to caucuses in 2004 to save money. Political parties pay the tab for caucuses, though taxpayers would be responsible for running an election.
The move to revive primaries came after this year's March 1 caucus, where both parties were plagued by complaints. Democrats struggled with long lines, and Republicans were miffed because the state GOP abandoned a presidential straw poll entirely.
"People were disenfranchised of their right to vote on a presidential candidate," said Sen. Matt Jones, D-Louisville.
Responding to voter complaints, Democratic and Republican lawmakers teamed to propose presidential primaries for 2020. But officials were unable to agree on whether to make it easier for voters who don't belong to either party to participate.
The negotiations dragged on for weeks at the Capitol, where all hope was abandoned Tuesday. The lone surviving bill failed on a 3-2 vote in a GOP Senate committee where both sides groused about the primary disagreement. Republicans hoped that Democrats would agree to review the problem, rather than commit to a 2020 primary.
"The general public needs time to understand all the ramifications," said Se. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junctions.
Democrats scoffed at the delay. "It doesn't speak to the underlying issue or concern about access to the process for voters," said Sen. Jesse Ulibarri, D-Commerce City, who sponsored an unsuccessful primary proposal in 2015.
Separately, a group of civic leaders has been working for months on plans to open primaries to voters who don't belong to either party. Some 40 percent of Colorado voters are unaffiliated, including a majority of voters under age 25.
A handful of proposed initiatives to set up 2020 primaries are still pending. About 100,000 signatures are required to put a Colorado initiative on statewide ballots.
- By KRISTEN WYATT, AP Writer
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