Washington State Republican Party v. Logan

Full title: WASHINGTON STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY, et al., Plaintiffs, and WASHINGTON…

Court: United States District Court, W.D. Washington

Date published: Jul 15, 2005

377 F. Supp. 2d 907 (W.D. Wash. 2005)

Opinion

No. C05-927Z.

July 15, 2005.

John James White, Jr., Kevin B. Hansen, Livengood, Carter, Tjossem, Fitzgerald Alskog, Kirkland, WA, David Thomas McDonald, Jay S Carlson, Preston Gates Ellis, Seattle, WA, Richard Dale Shepard, Shepard Law Office Inc., Tacoma, WA, for Plaintiff.

Janine Joly, Thomas William Kuffel, King County Courthouse Civil Division, Seattle, WA, Thomas Fitzgerald Ahearne, Foster Pepper Shefelman, Seattle, WA, Gordon W. Sivley, Robert Tad Seder, Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Civil Division, Everett, WA, Steven James Kinn, Spokane County Prosecutor's Office, Spokane, WA, Curtis Guy Wyrick, Clark County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Vancouver, WA, Ronald S. Marshall, Cowlitz County Prosecutor's Office, Kelso, WA James Garnet Baker, Grays Harbor Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Montesano, WA, Frederick Alan Johnson, Wahkiakum County Prosecuting Attorney, Cathlamet, WA, David W. Alvarez, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Port Townsend, WA, for Defendants.

James Kendrick Pharris, Jeffrey T. Even, Maureen Alice Hart, Attorney General of Washington, Olympia, WA, for Defendant Intervenors.

ORDER

ZILLY, District Judge.Page 2

I. Introduction

On May 19, 2005, the Washington State Republican Party (the "Republican Party") filed this action against Dean Logan, King County Records and Elections Division Manager and the Auditors of eight other counties. Complaint, docket no. 1. The Republican Party's Complaint challenges Initiative 872 on the basis of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The Washington State Democratic Central Committee (the "Democratic Party") and the Washington State Libertarian Party (the "Libertarian Party") have now intervened as Plaintiffs and also contend that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional. See docket nos. 2, 3.

Plaintiff Republican Party contends that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional because the Initiative prevents voters who share party affiliation from selecting their party's nominees. The Republican Party also alleges that Initiative 872 forces the Party to be associated publicly with candidates who have not been nominated by the Party, who will alter the political message and agenda the Party seeks to advance, and who will confuse the voting public with respect to what the Party and its adherents stand for.

The Democratic Party contends portions of Initiative 872 are unconstitutional to the extent that they authorize the County Auditors to permit non-affiliates of the Democratic Party to participate in its nomination process, and to the extent Initiative 872 allows cross-over voting in violation of the Party's associational rights.

The Libertarian Party claims that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional because it "places impermissible limits on access to the general election ballot" contrary to the United States Constitution, and allows a person to appropriate the Libertarian Party label without compliance with its nominating rules and without allowing the Party to define what the Party label means.

The State of Washington and the Washington State Grange (the "Grange") have also intervened as Defendants. See Order, docket no. 30; see also Minute Entry, docket no. 45. The State of Washington and the Grange contend that Initiative 872 is constitutional.

This case presents a classic conflict between the rights of the voters to establish by initiative a new system for conducting primaries and general elections for partisan offices, and the rights of political parties to control the nomination of partisan candidates for elective office and to protect their rights of association. Primaries constitute a "crucial juncture" in the elective process and a "vital forum" for expressive association among voters and political parties. Clingman v. Beaver, ___ U.S. ___, 125 S. Ct. 2029, 2042 (May 23, 2005) (O'Connor, J., concurring). The voters by Initiative 872 seek to create a system "that best protects the rights of voters to make such choices, increases voter participation, and advances compelling interests of the state of Washington." Initiative 872, Sec. 2.¹

1 The Text of Initiative 872 can be found at Wash. Rev. Code. Ann. § 29A.52 (West Supp. 2005). Throughout this Order, the Court will cite to the text of Initiative 872 as "Initiative 872, Sec. ____".

Plaintiffs seek to have Initiative 872 declared unconstitutional under the United States Constitution as constituting an illegal nomination process, as requiring an unconstitutional "forced association," and for violating equal protection under the law. The recent invalidation of the Washington blanket primary forced Washington voters to choose between two strikingly different versions of a primary election. The voters were forced to choose between voter choice and party nominations, and the voters chose voter choice.

In considering the issues presented in this case, the Court does not begin with a clean slate. Rather, the United States Constitution and binding court precedent have created the landscape for deciding these important issues.

II. History of Washington's Primary Process

For over 100 years, Washington has had a partisan election system. Historically, voters at the general election were provided a choice between representatives of each qualifying political party. From 1890 through 1907, candidates for partisan offices were chosen either by convention or by petition. In 1907, the Washington State Legislature established the first direct primary system for partisan candidates, requiring political parties to choose their representative through a public primary.See State ex rel. Wells v. Dykeman, 70 Wash. 599 (1912). In this system separate ballots were printed for each political party and voters could only cast ballots in one party's primary.

Washington State's "blanket primary"² system was first established in 1935. Except for presidential primaries,³ all properly registered voters could vote for their choice at any primary for "any candidate for each office, regardless of political affiliation and without a declaration of political faith or adherence on the part of the voter." Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 29.18.200 (West 2003). As a result, each voter received a ballot listing all candidates of all parties and could vote for any candidate as opposed to getting an exclusively Republican, Democratic, or other party ballot. Under the blanket primary system, voters could choose candidates from some parties for some positions, others for other positions, and engage in cross-over voting or "ticket splitting." Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 29.18.200 (West 2003). Under the blanket primary system, minor parties selected their nominees at conventions prior to the date of the primary. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 29.24.020 (West 2003). These nominees would be placed on the ballot for the primary election. To be placed on the general election ballot, under the prior blanket primary procedure, minor party nominees had to receive a number of votes equal to at least one percent of the total number cast for all candidates for that position. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 29.30.095 (West 2003).⁴

2 In a "closed" primary, only voters who register as members of a party may vote in primaries to select that party's candidates. In an "open" primary, the voter can choose the ballot of any party but then is limited to the candidates on that party's ballot. In a "blanket primary," a voter can vote for candidates of any party on the same ballot. In a "nonpartisan blanket primary," voters can vote for anyone on the primary ballot, and the top vote-getters, regardless of party, run against each other in the general election. See Reed v. Democratic Party of Wash., 343 F.3d 1198, 1203 (9th Cir. 2003).
Currently, thirty seven states conduct some type of closed primary. Ala. Code § 17-161-4(b); Alaska Stat. § 15.25.010; Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-467; Ark. Code Ann. §§ 7-7-307, 7-7-308; Cal. Elec. Code § 2151; Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 1-7-201, 1-2-218.5; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-431; Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 3161; Fla. Stat. Ann. § 101.021; 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/7-43(a); Ind. Code § 3-10-1-6; Iowa Code Ann. §§ 43.41, 43.42; Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-3301; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 116.055; Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A, § 340; Md. Code Ann., Election Law, § 8-802; Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53 § 37; Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-575; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-912; Nev. Rev. Stat. 293.287; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann § 654.34(II); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 19:23-45.1; N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-12-7; N.Y. Elec. Laws § 1-104(9); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-59; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19; Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 1-104; Or. Rev. Stat. § 254.365; 25 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 2832; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 17-15-21, 17-15-24, 17-9.1-23; S.C. Code Ann. § 7-9-20; S.D. Codified Laws § 12-6-26; Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115; Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 162.003, 162.012, 162.013; Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-3-104.5, 20A-3-202; W. Va. Code § 3-1-35; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-52-12.
Eleven states conduct open primaries. Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-224; Haw. Rev. Stat. § 123-1; Idaho Code §§ 34-402, 34-404, 34-904; Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.576; Minn. Stat. § 204D.08; Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.397; Mont. Code Ann. § 13-10-301; N.D. Cent. Code § 16.11-1-22; Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 2363; Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-530; Wis. Stat. §§ 5.37, 6.80.
Two states conduct so-called nonpartisan blanket primaries. Louisiana is the only state other than Washington to conduct such a primary. La.Rev.Stat. Ann. §§ 18:401, 18:481, 18:482.
All states but Louisiana and Washington limit voters to voting in only one political party's primary.

3 None of the primary systems addressed in this Order affect Presidential and Vice Presidential primaries. These primaries are addressed by a separate system found in Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.56.010, et seq.

4 A "'major political party' [is] a political party of which at least one nominee for president, vice president, United States senator, or a statewide office received at least five percent of the total vote cast at the last preceding state general election in an even-numbered year." Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.086. A minor political party is "a political organization other than a major political party." Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.097.

In 2000, the United States Supreme Court held that California's blanket primary, similar in many respects to Washington's blanket primary, was unconstitutional. California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567 (2000). The Supreme Court held that the California blanket primary placed a severe burden on political parties' right of association, was not narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling state interest, and was therefore unconstitutional. Id. at 582-85, 120 S.Ct. 2402.

In 2003, relying on Jones, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Washington's blanket primary system was unconstitutional in Democratic Party of Washington v. Reed, 343 F.3d 1198 (2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1213, 124 S.Ct. 1412, 158 L.Ed.2d 140 (2004). The Ninth Circuit stated that Washington's primary system was "materially indistinguishable" from the invalidated California system. Id. at 1203. As a result, Washington's blanket primary that had been used for over sixty-five years was held unconstitutional and the State was legally enjoined from "conducting the challenged primary in future elections." Amended Judgment, Washington State Democratic Party v. Reed, No. C00-5419FDB (W.D. Wash. May 13, 2004).

On January 8, 2004, the Grange filed Initiative 872 with the Secretary of State (the "Secretary").⁵ Dembowski Decl., docket nos. 68 and 69, Ex. F. Initiative 872 proposed a "top two" primary system in which a properly registered voter has "the right to cast a vote for any candidate for each office without any limitation based on party preference or affiliation of either the voter or the candidate." Initiative 872, Sec. 5.⁶ Initiative 872 defines a partisan primary as a "procedure for winnowing candidates for public office to a final list of two as part of a special or general election." Id.

5 The Washington Constitution was amended in 1912 to allow direct government by the people in the form of popularly enacted initiatives and referendums on laws passed by the Legislature. Wash. Const. art. II, § 1 ("the people reserve to themselves the power to propose bills, laws, and to enact or reject the same at the polls, independent of the legislature, and also reserve power, at their own option, to approve or reject at the polls any act, item, section, or part of any bill, act, or law passed by the legislature"). The initiative process allows the electorate to petition to place proposed legislation on the ballot. If the initiative's supporters timely file a petition with signatures of legal voters equaling eight percent of the votes cast for the office of governor at the last regular gubernatorial election, the proposed legislation is placed on the ballot. Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.72.150, 29A.72.250. Voters are then able to directly vote on the proposed legislation at the next general election or special election called by the Legislature. Since the State adopted the initiative process in 1912, voters have approved sixty-one statewide initiatives.

6 The primary system proposed by Initiative 872 has been referred to as the "modified blanket primary," the "People's Choice Initiative," and the "top two" primary. For purposes of this Order the Court will refer to the primary system under attack in this litigation as simply Initiative 872.

While sponsors of Initiative 872 were gathering signatures,⁷ the Washington State Legislature was faced with the task of developing a new primary system in Washington State after the Reed decision invalidated the blanket primary. On March 10, 2004, the Legislature enacted a bill which would have provided for two alternative primary systems. E.S.B. 6453, 58th Leg., 2004 Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2004). Part I of the bill provided for a "Louisiana" style primary system, commonly referred to as the "top two" approach. See id., Part I. Under the top two approach, a registered voter would be permitted to cast a vote for each office appearing on the ballot without any limitation based on the party preference of either the voter or the candidate. Id., § 5. The top two candidates would then proceed to the general election.⁸

7 To begin the process of placing a proposed initiative on the ballot, a legal voter must file with the Secretary a legible copy of the proposed measure accompanied by an affidavit that the proposer is a legal voter and the requisite filing fee. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.010. This filing must be made within ten months of the date of the election at which the measure is to be submitted to a vote. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.72.030.

8 The top two system passed by the Legislature is similar, although not identical, to the primary system proposed in Initiative 872.

Aware that the political parties would probably challenge the constitutionality of the top two system, the Legislature also enacted a "backup plan" to take effect if the top two system was invalidated. Id., Part II. Under this alternative, also referred to as the "Montana system," candidates qualify for the general election through a process in which voters are not required to register with a party, but choose among candidates of a single party. Their choice of the ballot selected is not public. Under this backup plan, major political party candidates for partisan offices would be nominated by way of a primary election in which a voter would have to choose a political party's ballot and could only vote for candidates on that party's ballot. Id., § 126.⁹ Under the Montana system, minor party candidates would be nominated by a party nominating convention, Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.20.121(1), and the minor party candidate selected would be placed on the ballot for the general election. Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.20.121; 29A.20.141. Minor party candidates will appear only on the general election ballot under the Montana system.

9 Under the categories of primary the Court has identified, the Montana primary system can be categorized as an open primary.

On April 1, 2004, Governor Gary Locke vetoed the top two approach. E.S.B. 6453, 58th Leg., 2004 Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2004) (Governor's Veto Message). As a result, the Montana primary system took effect and was used by Washington voters in the primary election in the fall of 2004.

On November 2, 2004, Initiative 872 was approved by the voters by almost 60 percent. Dembowksi Decl., docket nos. 68 and 69, Ex. J (Washington State Election Measures Results). Initiative 872 became effective on December 2, 2004, thirty days after it was approved in the 2004 general election. Wash. Const. art. II, § 1.¹⁰

10 Initiative 872 also does not amend the statutes governing how the special primary for the office of U.S. President will be conducted. The Presidential election process, involving nominations by the national parties, is not subject to state-by-state regulation.

Initiative 872 provides the process for the selection of candidates for partisan office in Washington. A "major political party" means a political party of which at least one nominee for President, Vice President, United States Senator, or a statewide office received at least five percent of the total vote cast at the last preceding state general election in an even numbered year. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.086. A "minor political party" is any political organization other than a major political party. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.097.

Initiative 872 did not explicitly amend or repeal any sections of the Revised Code of Washington regulating the nomination of minor party candidates. Initiative 872, Sec. 17; Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.20.110 — 29A.20.201. The party nominating procedures established by the Montana primary system were not in existence at the time Initiative 872 was filed, making it impossible for the Initiative to have repealed or otherwise addressed these procedures. In addition, Initiative 872 did not refer to, repeal, or amend related sections of the Revised Code of Washington in existence at the time of the filing of the Initiative in January 2004. These provisions, which were part of the blanket primary,see Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§ 29.24.020, 29.30.005, 29.30.095 (West 2003), provided in substance that minor party candidates would be nominated at party conventions. If a minor party candidate received one percent of the vote in the primary, that candidate would appear on the general election ballot.¹¹

11 The Reed court decision did not address the provisions relating to minor party candidates.

In the 2005 legislative session, the Secretary sponsored legislation in both the State House and the Senate to "implement" Initiative 872. See H.B. 1750, 59th Leg., 2005 Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2005); S.B. 5745, 59th Leg., 2005 Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2005). These bills would have eliminated minor party nominating conventions, other than for President and Vice President. H.B. 1750, Sec. 9. The Legislature did not enact any legislation dealing with Initiative 872 in 2005.¹²

12 E-mail correspondence from individuals within the state government indicates that at least some believed any changes made to Initiative 872 would have to be made by a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature. Hansen Decl., docket no. 64, Ex. 3 at 22-23 (E-mail from Rep. Kathy Haigh to Bob Terwilliger). Another internal e-mail indicates that some state legislators believed that any legislation that would change the minor party nominating procedure would also have to pass by a two-thirds majority. Id. at 26 (E-mail from John Pearson to Katie Blinn). Article II, Section 41, of the Washington State Constitution provides that no act, law or bill enacted by a majority of voters can be amended or repealed within two years of its enactment except by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. Wash. Const. art. II, § 41.

On May 18, 2005, the Secretary adopted emergency regulations relating to primary elections in Washington. One of these regulations, Wash. Admin. Code § 434-215-015, purports to abolish the minor party convention rights that were not addressed in the text of Initiative 872 or by the Washington Legislature during 2004. Pharris Decl., docket no. 66, Ex. C (New Section: WAC 434-215-015 ).

III. Issues Presented and Relief Requested

Pursuant to the Court's request, the parties have stipulated that the following legal issues should be addressed at this time.

1. Does the primary system established by Initiative 872 nominate political party candidates for public office?

2. If the primary system under Initiative 872 does not nominate political party candidates for public office, does each political party have the right to select for itself the only candidate who will be associated with it on either a primary or general election ballot?

3. If the primary system under Initiative 872 nominates political party candidates for public office, does Initiative 872 violate the First Amendment by compelling a political party to associate with unaffiliated voters and members of other political parties in the selection of its nominees?

4. Does Washington's filing statute impose forced association of political parties with candidates in violation of the parties' First Amendment associational rights?

5. Does Initiative 872's limitation of access to the general election ballot to only the top two vote-getters in the primary for partisan office unconstitutionally limit ballot access for minor political parties?

See Stipulated Statement of Legal Issues, docket no. 40. In addition, the parties have briefed the issue of whether Initiative 872 is severable if the Court finds portions of the Initiative unconstitutional. Plaintiffs Republican Party, Democratic Party and Libertarian Party move the Court for Summary Judgment in their facial challenge to Initiative 872.

Plaintiff Republican Party asks the Court for a ruling as a matter of law that Initiative 872 and Washington's filing statutes, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.24.030, 29A.24.031, impose an unconstitutional burden on First Amendment rights. Plaintiff moves for a permanent injunction preventing any partisan election pursuant to Initiative 872, or the identification of any candidate as "Republican," if not authorized by the Republican Party.

Plaintiff Democratic Party asks the Court for a ruling as a matter of law that Initiative 872 burdens First Amendment rights by (1) allowing any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation or relationship to the party, to self-identify as a member of a political party and to appear on the primary and general election ballots as a candidate for that party; and (2) allowing any voter, regardless of party affiliation, to vote for any political party candidate in the primary election. Plaintiff moves for a permanent injunction preventing the State of Washington or any political subdivision of the State from enforcing or implementing Initiative 872 at any primary or general election.

Plaintiff Libertarian Party asks the Court for a ruling as a matter of law that Initiative 872 and Washington's filing statutes, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.24.030, 29A.24.031, impose an unconstitutional burden on First Amendment rights and unconstitutionally limit minor party ballot access. Plaintiff moves for a permanent injunction preventing a partisan election under Initiative 872; the identification as "Libertarian" of any unauthorized candidate; and any election which requires more than a "modicum of support" to secure general election ballot access.

The State of Washington and the Grange oppose Plaintiffs' Motions for Summary Judgment and the relief requested by the Plaintiffs. The Defendants contend Initiative 872 does not impose a burden on First Amendment associational rights, and request the Court enter an Order and Judgment in their favor.

IV. Supplemental Request

In addition to the issues addressed in opening briefs, the Republican Party submitted a Supplement to its Motion for Summary Judgment, docket no. 63. In the Supplement, the Republican Party requests a finding that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional because it violates the right to equal protection under the law, in violation of the United States Constitution. The Republican Party contends that "Initiative 872 violates the Equal Protection clause by allowing minor political parties to nominate candidates and control their message, but denying the same right to the [major political parties.]" See Republican Supplement, docket no. 63, at 4.

The Republican Party's Supplement was filed on June 23, 2005, after the deadline for Opening Briefs. The State of Washington has moved to strike the Republican Party's Supplement, see Motion to Strike, docket no. 65, and argues the Supplemental filing is untimely and prejudicial. Id. at 10. The Republican Party argues that the Court should consider its additional argument and notes that its equal protection argument was raised in its Complaint, docket no. 1, at ¶¶ 22-23, and previous Motion for Preliminary Injunction, docket no. 7, at 10.

The Court finds that the Republican's Supplement to Summary Judgment Motion, docket no. 63, provided adequate notice to the Defendant State of Washington and the Defendant Washington State Grange. The Supplement raises important issues of equal protection related to the treatment of minor parties under Initiative 872.

The Court DENIES the Motion to Strike, docket no. 65.

V. Legal Standard

This is a facial challenge to Initiative 872, which Plaintiffs allege burdens the exercise of their First Amendment rights. All parties agree that this facial challenge is ripe for adjudication,¹³ and that the alleged "threat" to the political parties' associational rights is more than hypothetical. The allegation of imminent injury to established First Amendment rights warrants intervention by the federal courts. See Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 117, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976).

13 A statute may be challenged in two distinct ways. First, a statute may be challenged on its face, whereby a court examines solely the text of the document to determine its constitutionality. Second, a statute may be challenged as it is applied. In an "as applied" challenge, a court considers the constitutionality of a statute as it has been applied to the parties to the action. The Court has previously directed the parties to limit their briefs to Plaintiffs' facial challenge of Initiative 872. The Court reserved issues related to Plaintiffs' as applied challenge.

Our constitutional system does not authorize the judiciary to sit as a superlegislature to judge the wisdom or desirability of legislative or initiative policy decisions. See Heller v. Doe, 509 U.S. 312, 319 (1993). Rather, courts must give state statutes and lawfully enacted initiatives a strong presumption of validity. See Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 611-13 (1973). The presumption of validity is especially strong in this case because Plaintiffs are making a facial challenge to Initiative 872. See United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 745 (1987).

In a facial challenge, there is no analytic scheme whereby the political parties must submit evidence establishing that they have been harmed. See Reed, 343 F.3d at 1203. Rather, the Court evaluates the challenged statute on its face, in light of the constitutional burdens or infringements alleged. Id. Plaintiffs in this case allege that Initiative 872 burdens their First Amendment associational rights by allowing non-affiliates of the party to participate in a party's nominee selection process and forcing a party to associate with a candidate other than those selected by the party.

Where a statutory scheme imposes a severe burden on core First Amendment rights, the scheme must be found unconstitutional unless the State affirmatively demonstrates that the scheme is narrowly tailored to advance a compelling state interest.¹⁴ Reed, 343 F.3d at 1204. In Reed, the Ninth Circuit discussed the applicable framework for this Court's review:

14 The State and the Grange argue that a facial challenge requires the challenger to establish "that no set of circumstances exists under which the Act would be valid." E.g., State Response, docket no. 65, at 4 (citing United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 745 (1987)). Because Plaintiffs challenge to Initiative 872 raises First Amendment rights, the Court will subject any restrictions on free association to strict scrutiny.Reed, 343 F.3d at 1203.

This is a facial challenge to a statute burdening the exercise of a First Amendment right. . . . In Jones, the Court read the state blanket primary statutes, determined that on their face they restrict free association, accordingly subjected them to strict scrutiny, and only then looked at the evidence to determine whether the State satisfied its burden of showing narrow tailoring toward a compelling state interest.

343 F.3d at 1203. A "[c]onstitutional challenge to specific provisions of a State's election laws . . . cannot be resolved by any 'litmus-paper test' that will separate valid from invalid restrictions." Tashjian v. Republican Party of Conn., 479 U.S. 208, 213-14, 107 S.Ct. 544, 93 L.Ed.2d 514 (1986) (quoting Anderson v. Celebrezze, 460 U.S. 780, 789, 103 S.Ct. 1564, 75 L.Ed.2d 547 (1983) (internal citations and quotations omitted)).

Instead, a court . . . must first consider the character and magnitude of the asserted injury to the rights protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments that the plaintiff seeks to vindicate. It must then identify and evaluate the precise interests put forward by the State as justifications for the burden imposed by its rule. In passing judgment, the Court must not only determine the legitimacy and strength of each of those interests, it must also consider the extent to which those interests make it necessary to burden the plaintiff's rights.

Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 214 (quoting Anderson, 460 U.S. at 789).

The nature of the asserted First Amendment interest in this case is evident: "freedom to engage in association for the advancement of beliefs and ideas is an inseparable aspect of the 'liberty' assured by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which embraces freedom of speech." Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 214 (quoting NAACP v. Alabama ex rel. Patterson, 357 U.S. 449, 460 (1958)). The freedom to join together in furtherance of common political beliefs "necessarily presupposes the freedom to identify the people who constitute the association." Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 214-15. "[A] corollary of the right to associate is the right not to associate." Jones, 530 U.S. at 574 (emphasis added).

A. California Democratic Party v. Jones

Prior to 1996, political party nominees in California were determined in a "closed" partisan primary, in which only persons who were members of the political party (i.e., who had declared affiliation with that party when they registered to vote) could vote for the party's nominee. See Cal. Elec. Code Ann. § 2151 (West 1996). In 1996, California voters adopted Proposition 198, which changed the California partisan primary from a closed primary to a blanket primary. Under Proposition 198, "all persons entitled to vote, including those not affiliated with any political party," had the right to vote "for any candidate regardless of the candidate's political affiliation." Cal. Elec. Code Ann. § 2001 (West Supp. 2000). The candidate of each party winning the greatest number of votes became "the nominee of that party at the ensuing general election." Cal. Elec. Code Ann. § 15451 (West 1996). California law expressly provided that the name of the candidate of each party with the most votes was the party's "nominee." Id. Proposition 198 was promoted as a measure that would "weaken" party "hard-liners" and ease the way for "moderate problem-solvers." See Jones, 530 U.S. at 570. Four political parties brought suit in California alleging the blanket primary adopted by Proposition 198 violated their First Amendment rights of association.

The United States Supreme Court in Jones recognized the "major role [the States have] to play in structuring and monitoring the election process, including primaries," and the State's ability to "require parties to use the primary format for selecting their nominees." Jones, 530 U.S. at 572, 120 S.Ct. 2402. Nevertheless, the Court held the California blanket primary unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that "when States regulate parties' internal processes, they must act within the limits imposed by the Constitution." Jones, 530 U.S. at 573, 120 S.Ct. 2402.

Representative democracy in any populous unit of governance is unimaginable without the ability of citizens to band together in promoting among the electorate candidates who espouse their political views. The formation of national political parties was almost concurrent with the formation of the Republic itself. Consistent with this tradition, the Court has recognized that the First Amendment protects the freedom to join together in furtherance of common political beliefs, which necessarily presupposes the freedom to identify the people who constitute the association, and to limit the association to those people only.

Id. at 574. The Jones Court held that "[i]n no area is the political association's right to exclude more important than in the process of selecting its nominee," id. at 575, and concluded that the ability of a political party to select its "own candidate," or "nominee," unquestionably implicates associational freedom. See id. at 575-76. Proposition 198, by allowing all voters to vote for any candidate regardless of political affiliation, violated the First Amendment associational rights of the political parties, and forced "political parties to associate with — to have their nominees, and hence their positions, determined by — those who, at best, have refused to affiliate with the party, and, at worst, have expressly affiliated with a rival." Id. at 577.

B. Democratic Party v. Reed

Washington State's blanket primary differed from California's blanket primary in that it did not explicitly name the candidate of each party with the most votes as its "nominee." Compare Cal. Elec. Code Ann. § 15451. Under Washington's blanket primary, "all properly registered voters" could vote at any primary "for any candidate for each office, regardless of political affiliation and without a declaration of political faith or adherence on the part of the voter." Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 29.18.200 (West 2003). To reach the general election ballot, a candidate had to receive a plurality of the votes cast for candidates of his or her party, and at least one percent of the total votes cast at the primary for all candidates for that office. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 29.30.095 (West 2003).

Because all candidates from all parties were listed on the primary ballot, and were voted on by all registered voters, the Ninth Circuit concluded that Washington's blanket primary was "materially indistinguishable" from California's blanket primary.Reed, 343 F.3d at 1203. The Ninth Circuit held that Washington's blanket primary was "on its face an unconstitutional burden on the rights of free association" of the political parties. Id. at 1207.

The State of Washington argued in Reed that Washington's blanket primary was distinguishable from California's blanket primary because Washington does not register voters by party, and because winners of the primary are "'nominees' not of the parties but of the electorate." Id. at 1203. As such, the State argued Washington's primary was a nonpartisan blanket primary. Id. The Ninth Circuit disagreed, concluding that Washington's blanket primary denied "party adherents the opportunity to nominate their party's candidate free of the risk of being swamped by voters whose preference is for the other party." Id. at 1204.

The right of people adhering to a political party to freely associate is not limited to getting together for cocktails and canapés. Party adherents are entitled to associate to choose their party's nominees for public office. * * * Put simply, the blanket primary prevents a party from picking its nominees.

Id. The Ninth Circuit concluded that the First Amendment's protection of freedom of association required invalidation of Washington's blanket primary. Id. As a result, Washington's blanket primary was held unconstitutional and the State was enjoined from using the blanket primary system in the future.

VI. Analysis of Initiative 872

A. Does the primary system established by Initiative 872 nominate political party candidates for public office?

The parties dispute whether the primary system under Initiative 872 "nominates" political party candidates for public office, and whether it violates the First Amendment associational rights of the political parties. This inquiry is important because under Jones, primary voters at large may not choose a party's nominee. 530 U.S. at 585-86.

The 2004 Voters' Pamphlet description of Initiative 872 stated:

Initiative Measure No. 872 concerns elections to partisan offices.

This measure would allow voters to select among all candidates in a primary. Ballots would indicate candidates' party preference. The two candidates receiving most votes advance to the general election regardless of party.

Pharris Decl., docket no. 66, Ex. A (2004 Voters' Pamphlet at 10).

1. Statutory Modifications

Initiative 872 added a new definition for "Partisan office" in Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04, and modified the definition of "Primary" in Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.127, as follows:

Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 29A.04 RCW to read as follows:

"Partisan office" means a public office for which a candidate may indicate a political party preference on his or her declaration of candidacy and have that preference appear on the primary and general election ballot in conjunction with his or her name. The following are partisan offices:

(1) United States senator and United States representative;

(2) All state offices, including legislative, except (a) judicial offices and (b) the office of superintendent of public instruction;

(3) All county offices except (a) judicial offices and (b) those offices for which a county home rule charter provides otherwise.

Sec. 5. RCW 29A.04.127 and 2003 c 111 s 122 are each amended to read as follows:

"Primary" or "primary election" means a ((statutory)) procedure for ((nominating)) winnowing candidates ((to)) for public office ((at the polls)) to a final list of two as part of a special or general election. Each voter has the right to cast a vote for any candidate for each office without any limitation based on party preference or affiliation, of either the voter or the candidate.

See Initiative 872, Secs. 4-5. The State and County Auditors recognize no nomination process for a major party other than by the primary. White Decl., docket no. 8, Ex. 8 (County Auditors "not aware of any language associated with the Initiative that contemplates a partisan nominating process separate from the primary."). Under Initiative 872, the only way for a partisan candidate to reach the general election is through the "top two" primary.

The Grange alleges that the Initiative 872 primary "determines the two candidates or nominees for the general election ballot, while allowing each candidate to disclose to the voters his or her own political preference." See Answer, docket no. 37, at ¶ 16 (emphasis added). Nevertheless, the Grange contends that determining the "candidates or nominees" for the general election does not select the candidate or nominee for any political party. Id.

The State of Washington argues that Initiative 872 does not "nominate" political party candidates for public office, and does not create a nominating primary. Rather, the State contends that Initiative 872 makes "party nominations . . . irrelevant to qualifying candidates to the ballot." See State Response, docket no. 65, at 12. The State urges that unlike a "nominating" primary, Initiative 872 is a "winnowing" primary in which the primary voters do not choose the party's nominee. Changes by the Initiative to Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.127 revised "nominating" to "winnowing."¹⁵ The Republican Party argues that calling the primary a "winnowing primary," rather than a "nominating primary," does not distinguish the Initiative 872 primary system from the blanket primaries rejected in Jones andReed, and does not change the fact that Initiative 872's primary nominates candidates. All Plaintiffs argue that the Court must analyze the framework of the Initiative, rather than changes to statutory wording, in determining its effect and possible burden on First Amendment rights.

15 However, similar changes were not made to other statutes which require the major parties to advance candidates for Congressional, State and County offices by means of these partisan nominating primaries: "[m]ajor political party candidates for all partisan elected offices, except for president and vice president . . . must be nominated at primaries held under this chapter." Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.116; see also Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.111. The State of Washington argues that Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.116 is "clearly inconsistent with the system established under I-872, and should be regarded as obsolete." See State Response, docket no. 65, at 19 n. 16. This provision could not have been expressly repealed by Initiative 872 because it was enacted after the filing of Initiative 872. Plaintiffs rely on Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.116 as support for their argument that Initiative 872 is a "nominating" primary. This argument is unpersuasive because that statute had not even been enacted when the Initiative was filed. However, for the reasons stated in this opinion the Court concludes that Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.116 is not in conflict with the Initiative.

The Republican Party notes that the State unsuccessfully proffered its "winnowing" arguments in Jones. ¹⁶ All Plaintiffs suggest the change of "nominating" to "winnowing" is a change without a difference. The Democratic Party argues that Initiative 872 engages in "word-play," attempting to transform the constitutionality of Washington's nominating procedure by avoiding the word "nominate." See Democratic Party Opening Br., docket no. 55, at 15.¹⁷ The Democratic Party argues that "tinker[ing] with the wording of the definition of 'primary' to avoid using the word 'nominating'" does not alter the substance of the primary as a nominating procedure. Id.

16 In its amicus curiae brief before the Supreme Court inJones, the State described "the winnowing of candidates for the general election" as the only "aspect of party associational activities affected by the blanket primary." Brief of the States of Washington Alaska as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents, 2000 WL 340240, at *10.

17 "Nominate" means "[t]o propose by name as a candidate, especially for election." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed. 2000). "Winnow" means "[t]o rid of undesirable parts," or "[t]o separate the good from the bad."Id.

All Plaintiffs urge the Court to conclude that the primary under Initiative 872 is a "nominating" primary, because it results in the selection of political party nominees, and because the State and County Auditors, acting pursuant to state law, permit no nomination process other than by the primary.

2. Political Party Function

"[A] basic function of a political party is to select the candidates for public office to be offered to the voters at general elections." Clingman, 125 S. Ct. at 2042 (O'Connor, J., concurring) (quoting Kusper v. Pontikes, 414 U.S. 51, 58, 94 S.Ct. 303, 38 L.Ed.2d 260 (1973)). Political parties are entitled to First Amendment protections for any process which chooses the party's nominee.See Jones, 530 U.S. at 575. The party's "nominee" has also been referred to as the political party's "own candidate," id. (quoting Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 235-36 (Scalia, J., dissenting)), "standard bearer," Timmons, 520 U.S. at 359, "choice," id. at 372 (Stevens, J., dissenting), "ambassador to the general electorate," Jones, 530 U.S. at 575, and the "standard bearer who best represents the party's ideologies and preferences." Eu v. San Francisco County Democratic Cent. Comm., 489 U.S. 214, 224 (1989) (internal quotations omitted).

The State contends that by Initiative 872, the State completely decoupled the process for deciding which candidates appear on the general election ballot from any party's nominating process.See State Response, docket no. 65, at 17. The State argues that the political parties remain free to select their own nominees, and to advocate on their behalf in the "qualifying" primary.See id. Alternatively stated, the State argues that when forced to choose between (1) preserving voter choice; and (2) using primaries to nominate party candidates, voters chose to preserve voter choice. However, this misapprehends the choice available to voters after Jones and Reed. A political partydoes not have a constitutional right to have its candidate on the general election ballot; however, it does have a constitutional right to nominate its "standard bearer."Timmons, 520 U.S. at 359. The position advocated by the State transforms the party's right to "nominate" into a right to endorse. The Supreme Court rejected a similar argument with regard to California's Proposition 198: "[t]he ability of the party leadership to endorse a candidate is simply no substitute for the party members' ability to choose their own nominee."Jones, 530 U.S. at 580. To relegate the members of a political party to a role of mere support for their preferred "standard bearer," would deny a party its role in selecting its representative. Party members associational right to choose the "standard bearer" of the party cannot be so infringed, nor can the ability to nominate a party's chosen candidate be so easily disposed of.

"There is simply no substitute for a party's selecting its own candidates." Jones, 530 U.S. at 581.

3. Selection by Voters at Large

The State of Washington and the Grange also argue that "[t]he candidates who appear on the general election ballot are selected by the voters at large, not by the parties or by the voters as party members," and therefore the candidates are not the parties' nominees. See State Response, docket no. 65, at 19 (emphasis omitted). The Grange argues that Initiative 872 allows candidates to disclose the political party that the candidate prefers, and that unlike the blanket primary invalidated in Reed, Initiative 872 "does not require or force any political party to do anything."See Grange Response, docket no. 70, at 32 (emphasis omitted). These arguments have already been rejected by the Ninth Circuit in Reed. 343 F.3d at 1204 ("As for the State of Washington's argument that the party nominees chosen at blanket primaries 'are the nominees not of the parties but of the electorate,' that is the problem with the system, not a defense of it."). That conclusion is equally applicable here. The fact that voters at large will select the party's candidate indicates the Initiative 872 primary serves a nominating function. The major political parties may not be deprived of their rights simply because the primary system "does not require or force [the parties] to do anything."

It is similarly unhelpful to rename the nominating primary a "qualifying" primary. The Court must necessarily look beyond the characterization of the Initiative by its backers. Where the primary system under Initiative 872 selects from a slate of party candidates to advance two candidates to the general election, the system has the legal effect of "nominating" the party representatives in the partisan election.

4. Political "Preference" of Party Candidates

The State argues that "[s]ince party affiliation plays no role in determining which candidates advance to the general election, the primary established by [Initiative 872] cannot in any way be regarded as determining party nominees," and that a statement of "party preference" does not imply nomination, endorsement, or support of any political party. See State Response, docket no. 65, at 19-20. The Grange also argues that any statement of party preference by a candidate is absolutely protected by the First Amendment. These arguments also must fail. Party affiliation undeniably plays a role in determining the candidate voters will select, whether it is characterized as "affiliation" or "preference." Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 220. Party labels provide a shorthand designation of the views of party candidates on matters of public concern and play a role in the exercise of voting rights. Id. Candidates identified with their "preferred" party designation will "carry [the party] standard in the general election." See Republican Opening Brief, docket no. 49, at 7. Any attempt to distinguish a "preferred" party from an "affiliated" party is unavailing in light of Washington law.See Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030 ("Included on the standard form shall be . . . [f]or partisan offices only, a place for the candidate to indicate his or her major or minor party preference, or independent status"); Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.311 (County Auditors required to publish notice of the election with "the proper party designation" of each candidate); Wash Rev. Code § 29A.52.112(3) (Candidate expressing a political party "preference" will have that preference "shown after the name of the candidate on the primary and general election ballots.");see also Pharris Decl., docket no. 66, Ex. A (2004 Voters' Pamphlet at 11) ("The primary ballot [under Initiative 872] would include . . . major party and minor party candidates and independents.").

The association of a candidate with a particular party may be the single most effective way to communicate to voters what the candidate represents. See Rosen v. Brown, 970 F.2d 169, 172 (6th Cir. 1992) ("[P]arty candidates are afforded a 'voting cue' on the ballot in the form of a party label which research indicates is the most important determinant of voting behavior. Many voters do not know who the candidates are or who they will vote for until they enter the voting booth.").

The Grange's characterization of ballot labels of "party preference" as a permissible exercise of free speech must also fail. An individual has no right to associate with a political party that is an "unwilling partner." See Duke v. Cleland, 954 F.2d 1526, 1530 (11th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1086, 112 S.Ct. 1152, 117 L.Ed.2d 279 (1992). This is not an infringement on the candidate's rights because the political party has a right "to identify the people who constitute the association and to limit the association to those people only." Id. at 1531 (internal quotations omitted). Free speech rights of a candidate "do not trump the [political party's] right to identify its membership based on political beliefs. . . ." Duke v. Massey, 87 F.3d 1226, 1232-33 (11th Cir. 1996). A candidate's free speech right to express a "preference" for a political party does not extend to disrupting the party's First Amendment associational rights. See generally Storer v. Brown, 415 U.S. 724, 736 (1974) (upholding California statute designed to protect the parties and party system against the disorganizing effect of independent candidacies launched by unsuccessful putative party nominees).

5. The Jones Dicta: "Nonpartisan Blanket Primary"

The Court in Jones suggested in dicta that a "nonpartisan blanket primary" could protect important state interests and voter choice, with "all the characteristics of the partisan blanket primary, save the constitutionally crucial one: Primary voters are not choosing a party's nominee." Jones, 530 U.S. at 585-86.

The State and the Grange rely heavily on the following statement from Jones:

[California] could protect [its interests] by resorting to a nonpartisan blanket primary. Generally speaking, under such a system, the State determines what qualifications it requires for a candidate to have a place on the primary ballot — which may include nomination by established parties and voter-petition requirements for independent candidates. Each voter, regardless of party affiliation, may then vote for any candidate, and the top two vote getters (or however many the State prescribes) then move on to the general election. This system has all the characteristics of the partisan blanket primary, save the constitutionally crucial one: Primary voters are not choosing a party's nominee. Under a nonpartisan blanket primary, a State may ensure more choice, greater participation, increased "privacy," and a sense of "fairness" — all without severely burdening a political party's First Amendment right of association.

Jones, 530 U.S. at 585-86. According to the Grange, which sponsored Initiative 872, it "specifically drafted Initiative 872 to conform to [the Supreme Court ruling in Jones,]" and its description of a nonpartisan blanket primary. See White Decl., docket no. 8, Ex. 4 ("Advantages of a Qualifying Primary for Washington State").

The Court gives great weight to the Jones Court's suggestion in analyzing the constitutionality of Initiative 872. However, a careful analysis of Jones and this "suggestion" indicates that it cannot save Initiative 872 from its demise.

Initiative 872 does not establish a "nonpartisan blanket primary." Primary voters are choosing a party's nominee. Initiative 872 burdens the rights of the political parties to choose their own nominee by compelling the parties to accept any candidate who declares a "preference" for the party, and allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in the selection of the party's candidate.

Plaintiffs' claim that Initiative 872 "denies party adherents the opportunity to nominate their party's candidate free of the risk of being swamped by voters whose preference is for the other party," see Reed, 343 F.3d at 1204, is well grounded. Jones allows little room for "outside" involvement in "intraparty" competition. See Jones, 530 U.S. at 572, 120 S.Ct. 2402. This is confirmed by Justice Stevens' dissenting opinion. See id. at 598, n. 8, 120 S.Ct. 2402 ("It is arguable that, under the Court's reasoning combined with Tashjian, the only nominating options open for the States to choose without party consent are (1) to not have primary elections; or (2) to have what the Court calls a 'nonpartisan blanket primary' . . . in which candidates previously nominated by the various political parties and independent candidates compete.") (Stevens, J., dissenting).

6. Initiative 872 Nominates Candidates

In all constitutionally relevant respects, Initiative 872 is identical to the blanket primary invalidated in Reed: (1) Initiative 872 allows candidates to designate a party preference when filing for office, without participation or consent of the party;¹⁸ (2) requires that political party candidates be nominated in Washington's primary; (3) identifies candidates on the primary ballot with party preference; (4) allows voters to vote for any candidate for any office without regard to party preference; (5) allows the use of an open, consolidated primary ballot that is not limited by political party and allows crossover voting; and (6) advances candidates to the general election based on open, "blanket" voting.

18 The parties disagree as to whether minor party candidates are nominated through the nominating process described in Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.20.110 through 29A.20.201. See Section VI.C,infra. The parties also disagree as to the applicability of Initiative 872 to minor parties.

Because Initiative 872 constitutes a nominating process, the Court must address the question of Plaintiffs' associational rights, and the extent of the burden imposed on those rights by Initiative 872.¹⁹ B. Does Initiative 872 violate the First Amendment by compelling a political party to associate with unaffiliated voters and members of other political parties in the selection of its nominees?

19 The political parties argue in the alternative that if Initiative 872 is not a nominating primary, it would be unconstitutional for violation of the parties' First Amendment associational right to select candidates for public office. It is well settled that political parties have a constitutionally protected right to nominate their candidates for partisan office.See Jones, 530 U.S. at 575; Clingman, 125 S. Ct. at 2042 (O'Connor, J., concurring) (a basic function of a political party is to select candidates to be offered to voters in general elections); Eu, 489 U.S. at 224 (party entitled to select the "standard bearer who best represents the party's ideologies and preferences.").
First Amendment associational rights are no less protected where the State effects a primary system that eliminates the party's right to nominate its own candidates. In such a circumstance, the affected political party is entitled to hold a caucus or convention to nominate its candidates for partisan office. Similarly, the party is entitled to prevent non-affiliated candidates from expressing a party preference or affiliation on the primary or general election ballot. The choice of party nominee is "the crucial juncture at which the appeal to common principles may be translated into concerted action, and hence to political power in the community." Jones, 530 U.S. at 575 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The State cannot deprive political parties of their right to choose the candidate of their choice.

Plaintiffs argue Initiative 872 imposes an unconstitutional burden on the political parties' First Amendment associational rights by (1) interfering with the parties' right to determine the limits of voter association in the selection of the party candidates; and (2) imposing forced political association with any candidate who may self-designate a party "preference," which will be displayed on the ballot.²⁰

20 The State of Washington admits that "if the Court found . . . a [non-party] candidate's option to express a political party preference . . . sufficient to render the 'top two' primary a party nomination system, that would indeed trigger a need to respect the associational interests of the political parties."See State Response, docket no. 65, at 25. However, the State contends that it would not necessarily follow that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional. Id. at 25 n. 19; see also Section VII,infra.

1. Candidate Selection

The freedom to join together in furtherance of common political beliefs "necessarily presupposes the freedom to identify the people who constitute the association," Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 214, 107 S.Ct. 544, and "the right not to associate" with individuals who do not share common beliefs. Jones, 530 U.S. at 574, 120 S.Ct. 2402.

Freedom of association would prove an empty guarantee if associations could not limit control over their decisions to those who share the interests and persuasions that underlie the association's being.

Id. at 574-75. "[A] basic function of a political party is to select the candidates for public office to be offered to the voters at general elections." Clingman, 125 S. Ct. at 2042 (O'Connor, J., concurring) (internal quotations omitted). First Amendment associational rights in this context allow the party to select the "standard bearer who best represents the party's ideologies and preferences." Eu, 489 U.S. at 224.

Initiative 872 nominates political party candidates for office, and allows voters to choose any candidate, regardless of political affiliation. Initiative 872 therefore impermissibly "denies party adherents the opportunity to nominate their party's candidate free of the risk of being swamped by voters whose preference is for the other party." Reed, 343 F.3d at 1204. "In no area is the political association's right to exclude more important than in the process of selecting its nominee." Jones, 530 U.S. at 575.

Where a statutory scheme imposes a severe burden on core First Amendment rights, the scheme must be found unconstitutional unless the State affirmatively demonstrates that the scheme is narrowly tailored to advance a compelling state interest. Reed, 343 F.3d at 1204. The State of Washington and the Washington State Grange argue that Initiative 872 does not impose a severe burden on core First Amendment rights, but do not argue that Initiative 872 is narrowly tailored to meet a compelling state interest. The Court concludes as a matter of law that Initiative 872 "forces political parties to associate with — to have their nominees, and hence their positions, determined by — those who, at best, have refused to affiliate with the party, and, at worst, have expressly affiliated with a rival." Jones, 530 U.S. at 577.

2. Candidate Party Preference

Plaintiffs argue that Washington's filing statute, Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030,²¹ violates the parties' First Amendment associational rights by forcing the political parties to associate with any candidate who expresses a "preference" for a political party. Initiative 872 provides that any candidate may self-designate a party preference and that party's name will be printed on public ballots and in voters' guides after the candidate's name. See Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030 ("Included on the standard form shall be . . . [f]or partisan offices only, a place for the candidate to indicate his or her major or minor party preference, or independent status"); Wash Rev. Code § 29A.52.112 (Candidate expressing a political party "preference" will have that preference "shown after the name of the candidate on the primary and general election ballots."). County Auditors are also required to publish notice of the election with "the proper party designation" of each candidate. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.311.

21 Initiative 872 revised Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030, Washington's filing statute, to include on the ballot "a place for the candidate to indicate his or her major or minor party preference, or independent status," see Initiative 872, Sec. 9(3), without "cognizance" of the statute's repeal by 2004 c 271 § 193 in favor of Washington's new filing statute: Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.031. See Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030, Reviser's Note. Under statutory rules of construction in Wash. Rev. Code § 1.12.025, amended statute Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030 was given effect as amended by Initiative 872. See Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030, Reviser's Note; see also Initiative 872, Sec. 9(3).
The difference between Washington's two filing statutes is not significant to the Court's analysis. Compare Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030 ("major or minor party preference") with Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.031 ("party designation"). The parties base their analysis on Washington's filing statute as amended by Initiative 872, see Democratic Party Opening Br., docket no. 55, at 20-21; or both statutes together. See Republican Opening Br., docket no. 49, at 8-11. The Court, however, will limit its consideration to Washington's filing statute as amended by Initiative 872: Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030.

In this case the political parties seek relief beyond protecting their rights to nominate candidates. The parties seek to exclude all other candidates on the primary ballot from using similar party preferences. Neither the State nor the Grange disputes that a political party has an inherent right to nominate its own candidates. See State Response, docket no. 65, at 24; Grange Response, docket no. 70, at 27. The right to nominate is a constitutionally protected right of association. Under Initiative 872, political parties are given no choice with respect to whether such public association is made. The parties argue that the filing statutes force the parties to be affiliated with candidates that may qualify under party rules, or may be hostile to the party. The Defendants argue that "forced association" will not occur because "party preference" statements do not imply the nomination, endorsement, or support of any political party. See State Response, docket no. 65, at 20. However, rather than meet their burden to justify Initiative 872, the State and the Grange argue that candidates who appear on the primary and general election ballots are not candidates "of the party," even though they are identified on the ballot as associated with the party. This defense was previously rejected in Reed. 343 F.3d at 1204;see also Section VI.A.3, supra.

Party affiliation plays a role in determining which candidates voters select, whether characterized as "affiliation" or "preference." Tashjian, 479 U.S. at 220. The top two nature of the primary does not cure this defect. Parties cannot be forced to associate on a ballot with unwanted party adherents. See Section VI.A.4, supra. The right to select the candidate that will appear on the ballot is important to political parties that invest substantial money and effort in developing a party name. Party name and affiliation communicate meaningful political information to the electorate.²² The Democratic Party argues that it has expended considerable time and expense to develop a coherent set of goals and principles that guide the party, and that candidates asserting an affiliation with the party will receive numerous votes based solely on their proclaimed affiliation with the party, and implied adoption of its message and principles. Even non-commercial associations are entitled to protect their name against misappropriation and misuse. See, e.g., Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge v. Most Worshipful Universal Grand Lodge, 62 Wash. 2d 28, 35 (Wash. 1963) ("The underlying concept is that of unfair competition in matters in which the public generally may be deceived or misled."); Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian Bisexual Group, 515 U.S. 557, 566, 115 S.Ct. 2338, 132 L.Ed.2d 487 (1995) (private association could not be required to admit a parade contingent expressing message not of the organizers' choosing); Boy Scouts of Am. v. Dale, 530 U.S. 640, 659 (2000) ( First Amendment protects Boy Scouts' right to exclude leader whose presence would express a message at odds with Boy Scout policies). The Court is persuaded by Plaintiffs' arguments that allowing any candidate, including those who may oppose party principles and goals, to appear on the ballot with a party designation will foster confusion and dilute the party's ability to rally support behind its candidates.

22 The Libertarian Party notes that the name "Libertarian Party" is a registered trademark, and accordingly argues that the Libertarian Party has a proprietary right to determine who may use the name, and for what purposes it may be used. See Libertarian Opening Br., docket no. 52, at 14.

Initiative 872 imposes a severe burden on the Plaintiffs' First Amendment right to associate on two separate grounds: (1) Initiative 872 forces political parties' to have their nominees chosen by voters who have refused to affiliate with the party and may have affiliated with a rival; and (2) Initiative 872 forces the parties to associate with any candidate who expresses a party "preference." Because Initiative 872 is not narrowly tailored to advance a compelling state interest, the Court concludes that it is unconstitutional. Reed, 343 F.3d at 1203-04.

C. Initiative 872 and Minor Parties

The various parties in this litigation dispute Initiative 872's impact on minor parties. The Plaintiffs argue that Initiative 872's provision that only the top two candidates in the primary will be placed on the general ballot unconstitutionally restricts minor parties' access to the ballot. Additionally, in its Supplement to its Motion for Summary Judgment, the Republican Party requests a finding that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional because it violates the constitutional right to equal protection under the law. The Republican Party contends that "Initiative 872 violates the Equal Protection Clause by allowing minor political parties to nominate candidates and control their message, but denying the same right to the [major political parties.]" See Republican Supplement, docket no. 63, at 4. The Grange and the State argue that Initiative 872 supplanted and superseded any inconsistent provisions in the Revised Code of Washington, including those that treat minor parties differently. See State Response, docket no. 65, at 31 n. 23; Grange Response, docket no. 70, at 21 n. 30.

In order to evaluate the parties' allegations regarding Initiative 872's treatment of minor parties, the Court must determine whether Initiative 872 would provide different rights to the various political parties. The question presented is whether Initiative 872 repealed expressly or by implication the minor party nominating provisions.²³

23 The Montana system, adopted in 2004, treats minor party nominees differently. Under the Montana system, minor party nominees would still be selected through a nominating convention. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.20.121(1). However, they would then proceed directly to the general ballot after submitting a nominating petition containing the requisite number of signatures. Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.20.121, 29A.20.141.

Initiative 872 did not expressly repeal, amend, or otherwise address the minor party nominating statutes, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 29A.20.110 — 29A.20.201. Initiative 872, Sec. 17. The State and the Grange contend that Initiative 872 repealed by implication all of the previous minor party nominating statutes because the Initiative covers the entire subject matter of primary and general election procedures and was intended to supersede the prior legislation on the subject.

The language of Initiative 872 appears to preclude minor party nominees from appearing on the general election ballot without first having appeared on a primary election ballot. Section 5 of Initiative 872 defines a primary as "a procedure for winnowing candidates for public office to a final list of two as part of a special or general election." Initiative 872, Sec. 5. The language of a "final list of two" candidates for "public office" does not appear to leave room for additional, minor party candidates on the general election ballot. Section 6(1) states that, "[f]or any office for which a primary was held, only the names of the top two candidates will appear on the general election ballot." Initiative 872, Sec. 6(1). This language implies that in an election for any office in which a primary was held, only two candidates may appear on the general election ballot. Initiative 872, Sec. 7(2) ("Whenever candidates for a partisan office are to be elected, the general election must be preceded by a primary conducted under this chapter. Based upon votes cast at the primary, the top two candidates will be certified as qualified to appear on the general election ballot . . ."). Finally, Section 9(3) refers to minor party candidates and provides that the form for declaration of candidacy must have, "[f]or partisan offices only, a place for the candidate to indicate his or her major or minor party preference, or independent status." Initiative 872, Sec. 9(3).

The State of Washington 2004 Voter's Pamphlet states in part that "[t]he initiative would replace the system of separate primaries for each party" and that "[t]he primary ballot would include all candidates filing for the office, including both major party and minor party candidates and independents." Pharris Decl., docket no. 66, Ex. A (2004 Voters Pamphlet at 11). Finally, the explanation statement provides "[t]he measure would replace existing provisions that candidates of each major political party, as well as any minor party or independent candidates who qualify, appear on the general election ballot."²⁴ Id.

24 When the language of an initiative is ambiguous, the Court may look to the voters' pamphlet to ascertain the intent of the voters who approved it. Sane Transit v. Sound Transit, 151 Wash. 2d 60, 90 (2004) (citing Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 v. State, 142 Wash. 2d 183, 205-06 (2000)).

The Montana system's provision dictating that minor party candidates proceed directly to the general election ballot is in direct conflict with the primary system enacted under Initiative 872 in which all candidates for partisan office must submit to the primary in order to winnow the final list down to two. Similarly, under the prior blanket primary system, minor party nominees advanced to the general ballot if they received at least one percent of the total vote cast in the primary for that office. This provision is also inconsistent with Initiative 872's provisions allowing only the top two candidates to advance to the general election.

Repeal by implication is strongly disfavored. State v. Lessley, 118 Wash. 2d 773, 782 (1992); Washington State Welfare Rights Org. v. State, 82 Wash. 2d 437, 439 (1973) (internal citations omitted). Under Washington law, a statute will be deemed to be impliedly repealed only if: "[T]he later act covers the entire subject matter of the earlier legislation, is complete in itself, and is evidently intended to supersede the prior legislation on the subject, or unless the two acts are so clearly inconsistent with, and repugnant to, each other that they cannot, by a fair and reasonable construction, be reconciled and both given effect." Washington Federation of State Employees v. The Office of Financial Management, 121 Wash. 2d 152, 165 (1993).

The Court concludes as a matter of law that it was the intent of the voters who enacted Initiative 872 that it be a complete act in itself and cover the entire subject matter of earlier legislation governing minor parties.²⁵

25 The Court reluctantly holds that Initiative 872 repealed by implication the minor party nominating statutes. There are undoubtedly many voters in Washington whose political philosophies do not neatly square with those of either of the two major political parties, as well as voters who find these parties' philosophies antithetical to their own vision of good governance. For many voters, the minor parties have provided a vital means to advocate on behalf of their vision for this State. The Supreme Court has noted that minor parties have played an indispensable role in the nation's political process:

All political ideas cannot and should not be channeled into the programs of our two major parties. History has amply proved the virtue of political activity by minority, dissident groups, who innumerable times have been in the vanguard of democratic thought and whose programs were ultimately accepted . . . The absence of such voices would be a symptom of grave illness in our society.

Sweezy v. New Hampshire, 354 U.S. 234, 250-51 (1957). Initiative 872, if otherwise valid would significantly alter Washington State's political landscape and severely limit the important role of minor parties in the State's political process. This would remove from the general election the ability to choose candidates from a broad political spectrum. The scope of voters' disenfranchisement would be enormous. As Governor Locke noted in vetoing a similar top two alternative in 2004:

Minority parties bring diverse perspectives to political debate and additional choice to voters. They should not be foreclosed from meaningful participation in the democratic process.

E.S.B. 6453, 58th Leg., 2004 Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2004) (Governor's Veto Message). However, whether and to what extent the State should limit minority participation is obviously a policy issue to be decided by the Legislature or by the voters by Initiative.

Because the Court declares Initiative 872 unconstitutional on other grounds, and further concludes that minor parties would be treated the same as all other parties if it was constitutional, the Court does not reach the equal protection argument raised by the Republican Party. Similarly, the Court does not reach the minor party ballot access issue.

VII. The Severability of Initiative 872

If any portions of Initiative 872 are unconstitutional, the Court must determine whether the unconstitutional provisions can be severed from the remaining constitutional provisions. The State, the Grange, and the Democratic Party all contend that Initiative 872 is severable. The Republican Party argues that it is not severable.

Washington law governs the question of the severability of a Washington initiative. In In re Parentage of C.A.M.A., 154 Wash. 2d 52 (2005), the Washington Supreme Court described the test to determine whether unconstitutional statutory provisions can be severed as follows:

Ordinarily, only the part of an enactment that is constitutionally infirm will be invalidated, leaving the rest intact. An unconstitutional provision may not be severed, however, if its connection to the remaining, constitutionally sound provision is so strong "that it could not be believed that the legislature would have passed one without the other; or where the part eliminated is so intimately connected with the balance of the act as to make it useless to accomplish the purposes of the legislature." Also, the court is obliged to strike down the entire act if the result of striking only the provision is to give the remainder of the statute a much broader scope.

Guard v. Jackson, 83 Wash. App. 325, 333 (1996) (footnotes omitted) (quoting Leonard v. City of Spokane, 127 Wash. 2d 194, 201 (1995)).

In addition, unless the Court can conclude that the voters in the initiative process would have passed Initiative 872 absent any unconstitutional provisions, the proper remedy is invalidation rather than changing the Initiative. Griffin v. Eller, 130 Wash. 2d 58, 69-70 (1996). See also National Advertising Co. v. Orange, 861 F.2d 246 (9th Cir. 1988).

Initiative 872 does not have a severability clause. The presence of an applicable severability clause is some evidence that the voters would have enacted the constitutional portions of the Initiative without the unconstitutional portions, but a severability clause is not necessary in order to meet the severability test. See In re Parentage of C.A.M.A., 154 Wash. 2d at 67-68.

When determining if the Initiative is severable, the Court must take care not to rewrite legislation. "Under our constitutional framework, federal courts do not sit as councils of revision, empowered to rewrite legislation in accord with their own conceptions of prudent public policy." United States v. Rutherford, 442 U.S. 544, 555 (1979). To apply these rules in the context of this case, the Court must look at what must be severed for Initiative 872 to meet constitutional standards and how the remainder of the Initiative would realize the intent of voters who enacted it. The suggestions for severance offered by the parties fall short.

The State argues that the Court should "allow the State to adjust the specific problem the Court found [in Initiative 872] while maintaining the basic machinery of the 'top two' primary." State Response, docket no. 65, at 34. The State suggests that "the portions of Initiative 872 that appears [sic] to draw the most fire are Sections 7 and 9, the provisions that permit candidates to declare their 'political party preference' and provide that this information will appear on the ballot." Id.

The Grange argues that the Court should preserve Sections 1 and 2 of the Initiative, which it argues express the Initiative's intent. Grange's Response, docket no. 70, at 38. The Grange also argues that the only allegedly offending sections of Initiative 872 are Section 7(3), providing for candidates to indicate a political preference which will be shown on ballots "for the information of the voters," and Section 11, which provides that the candidate's party "preference" will be included in the State voters' pamphlet. Id. at 36.

The Democratic Party argues that if the Court concludes that the voters were primarily interested in limiting the number of candidates on the general election ballot to no more than two and that voters viewed as only incidental the creation of a non-party member's right to choose a party's candidate, the Court could sever the Initiative. Democratic Reply, docket no. 75, at 10. The Democratic Party argues that the Court "need only hold that the Initiative's requirement that a political party name be printed after a candidate's name is applicable if, and only if, the candidate has first been selected by the political party whose name he or she seeks to invoke, pursuant to the rules of that party." Id. Implementing this recommendation would require the Court to fundamentally rewrite the Initiative.

Several portions of Initiative 872 are unconstitutional because they violate Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights. In order to sever the offending sections of Initiative 872, the Court would need to sever most of Section 4, which defines a "partisan office" as one "for which a candidate may indicate a political party preference on his or her declaration of candidacy and have that preference appear on the primary and general election ballot in conjunction with his or her name"; Section 5, which redefines Primary or Primary Election, replaces "nominating" with "winnowing," and allows the right to cast a vote for any candidate for each office without any limitation based on party preference or affiliation, of either the voter or the candidate; Sections 7(2) and (3), which affix a candidate's party preference next to that candidate's name on both the primary and the general election ballot; Section 9(3), which provides a place on the declaration of candidacy for a candidate to state his or her major or minor party preference; Section 11, which states that the voters' pamphlet must also contain the political party preference or independent status of the candidate where the candidate expresses a preference; and Section 12, which provides that the certified list of candidates shall include each candidates' party preference. Initiative 872, Secs. 4, 5, 7(2), 7(3), 9(3), 11, 12. The effect of these deletions would be to substantially dismantle the partisan primary system adopted by Initiative 872. These deletions would eliminate any reference to party preference or affiliation, and would convert a partisan election process into a nonpartisan election process.

The Court must determine whether the connection between the potentially severable parts "and the remaining constitutionally sound provision is so strong 'that it could not be believed that [the voters] would have passed one without the other; or where the part eliminated is so intimately connected with the balance of the act as to make it useless to accomplish the purposes of [the voters].'" Guard v. Jackson, 83 Wash. App. 325, 333 (1996). "When the people approve an initiative measure, they exercise the same power of sovereignty as the legislature does when it enacts a statute. Once enacted, initiatives are interpreted according to the same rules of statutory construction as apply to the legislature's enactments. Thus, the court's aim is to determine the collective intent of the people who enacted the measure." McGowan v. State, 148 Wash. 2d 278, 288 (2002) (internal citations omitted). The Court may look to the plain language of the Initiative itself in order to determine the intent of the voters who enacted it. Id.

The Court concludes as a matter of law that Initiative 872 is not severable. The deletion of the unconstitutional portions of the Initiative leaves virtually nothing left of the system approved by the voters.

VIII. Effect of the Invalidity of Initiative 872

Declaring Initiative 872 unconstitutional will not leave Washington without a primary system. Enjoining the implementation of Initiative 872 will return Washington to the Montana primary system enacted before Initiative 872 was approved by the voters.

The effect of the invalidity of a state statute is governed by state law. Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 78 (1938). Washington law holds that an invalid statute is a nullity. "It is as inoperative as if it had never been passed." State v. Speed, 96 Wash. 2d 838, 843 (1982) (citing State ex. rel. Evans v. Brotherhood of Friends, 41 Wash. 2d 133, 143 (1952)). The Washington Supreme Court has held that the natural effect of this rule is that once the invalid statute has been declared a nullity, it leaves the law as it stood prior to the enactment of the invalid statute. Id. (citing Boeing Co. v. State, 74 Wash. 2d 82, 89, 442 P.2d 970 (1968)). In this case, the Court's holding that Initiative 872 is unconstitutional renders it a nullity, including any provisions within it purporting to repeal sections of the Revised Code of Washington. Therefore, the law as it existed before the passage of Initiative 872, including the Montana primary system, stands as if Initiative 872 had never been approved.

IX. Conclusion

For the reasons stated in this Order, the Court concludes as follows:

1. The implementation of Initiative 872 will severely burden the First Amendment rights of Washington's political parties by (a) allowing any voter, regardless of their affiliation to a party, to choose a party's nominee, Jones, 530 U.S. at 586; and (b) allowing any candidate, regardless of party affiliation or relationship to a party, to self-identify as a member of a political party and to appear on the primary and general election ballots as a candidate for that party. Reed, 343 F.3d at 1204.

2. Initiative 872 is not narrowly tailored to serve any legitimate and compelling state interest. Timmons, 520 U.S. at 358.

3. Initiative 872 is unconstitutional in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

For the reasons set forth herein, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs' Motions for Summary Judgment, docket nos. 49, 52, and 55 to the extent provided in this Order, and DENIES the State's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, docket no. 65.

The Court hereby GRANTS all Plaintiffs a Preliminary Injunction as follows:

1. The Court enjoins the State of Washington, or any political subdivision of the State, from enforcing, implementing, or conducting any election pursuant to the provisions of Initiative 872, as codified in Title 29A, Wash. Rev. Code.

2. The Court enjoins the State of Washington, or any political subdivision of the State, from enforcing or implementing the filing statute under Initiative 872, Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.030, as part of any primary or general election.

3. This injunction shall remain in effect until a permanent injunction is entered consistent with this Order.

4. Plaintiffs are directed to prepare, serve, and file a proposed permanent injunction consistent with this Order by July 22, 2005. Defendants may file any objection by July 27, 2005 and the Court will thereafter enter a permanent injunction.

IT IS SO ORDERED.