{"id":289756,"date":"2017-02-15T11:08:44","date_gmt":"2017-02-15T18:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=289756"},"modified":"2017-02-15T13:57:48","modified_gmt":"2017-02-15T20:57:48","slug":"bill-allowing-open-primaries-gets-warmer-reception-in-house-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2017\/02\/bill-allowing-open-primaries-gets-warmer-reception-in-house-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill allowing open primaries gets warmer reception in House committee"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Stephanie

Luis S\u00e1nchez Saturno \/ The New Mexican<\/p>

State Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, and Jim Dines, R-Albuquerque, speak before a committee on Tuesday about their bill to let\u00a0unaffiliated\u00a0and minor party voters participate in primary elections.<\/p><\/div>\n

Voters unaffiliated with either of the two major political parties — currently barred from participating in primary elections — would be allowed to choose either a Democratic or Republican primary ballot under a bill that unanimously cleared a House committee Tuesday.<\/p>\n

But judging by the reaction a similar bill received in a Senate committee earlier this week, the House bill could run into trouble if it makes it to the other side of the Roundhouse.<\/p>\n

The House Local Government, Elections, Land Grant and Cultural Affairs Committee gave a do-pass recommendation to House Bill 206<\/a>, sponsored by Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, and Jim Dines, R-Albuquerque. Garcia Richard said\u00a0her bill is aimed at increasing voter turnout.<\/p>\n