By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-955223.mp3
Frankfort, KY – A Kentucky House committee has rejected an attempt to have limited open primaries in the state.
Kentucky is a closed primary state, which means Democrats vote for Democrats on primary day and Republicans vote for Republicans. Crossing party lines is not permitted until the general election. But legislation sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Higdon would let registered independents participate in the Republican and Democratic primaries.
"They'd be able to go into the polling place on the day of the primary, declare a party that they want to participate in their primary and be able to vote in the primary."
Higdon's bill passed the Senate 23-13 last month, but fell one vote shy of passage in a House committee. Higdon says he will keep trying because there are 200,000 independent voters in Kentucky who want to fully participate in the state's electoral process.
"Right now it's an educational process. Every year that we've worked with the bill, we've gathered more support and I think in the foreseeable future this could very well happen in Kentucky."