STATEMENT from
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed
December 15, 2010
Secretary of State Sam Reed statement:
“I join Governor Gregoire in reluctantly asking the
Legislature to suspend the 2012 Presidential Primary in
Washington.
Ever since the Legislature approved the presidential primary in 1989 as
a people’s initiative to the Legislature, the primary has been a very
popular way to engage average citizens, not just party activists, in
the process of helping nominate candidates for President of the United
States.
“Both the governor and I appreciate the party precinct
caucuses as an opportunity for activists to gather for in-depth
discussion of issues and potential party platform planks, and to begin
the process of electing national convention delegates. But it is clear
that the primary system, as adopted by a large majority of the states,
is an accessible and convenient system that attracts far more voters
than our caucuses do, even in a landmark election year like 2008. That
year, the primary drew nearly 1.4 million Washingtonians – about
690,000 voting for a Democrat and 530,000 for a Republican – and our
caucuses a fraction of that.
“Whereas caucuses require a voter to seek out the local
gathering place and attend on a particular day, regardless of work
schedule, handicap or other conflict, the presidential primary allows
us to vote by mail over a period of several weeks.
“But at the same time, we acknowledge that Washington
faces a grave budget shortfall and that many important public services
must be suspended or eliminated. Suspending this election will
save
taxpayers more than $10 million. Ordinarily, I would be the last to
propose suspending an election, but these are not ordinary times and we
all are looking for ways to tighten our belts and live within our
means. I look forward to Washington resuming the presidential primary
in 2016.”