THE NEXT NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE SESSION COULD GET A CHANCE TO DEBATE THE ISSUE OF AN OPEN PRIMARY. STATE SENATOR BILL O'NEILL AND STATE REP EMILY KANE, BOTH DEMOCRATS, PLAN TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ALLOWING INDEPENDENTS TO VOTE IN WHAT IS NOW A CLOSED PRIMARY. AND GOVERNOR MARTINEZ SAYS SHE SUPPORTS AN OPEN PRIMARY. SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL VOTERS BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN PRIMARIES.
O'NEILL SAYS HE'S HEARD SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST HIS BILL, BUT HE'S NOT CONVINCED THERE'S ANY GREAT CONCERN. HE DOESN'T THINK AN ORGANIZED GROUP OF INDEPENDENTS WOULD COME IN AND "SHANGHAI" THE MAJOR PARTIES. HE SAYS OPENING UP NEW MEXICO'S PRIMARY WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION.
O'NEILL SAYS THE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENTS IN NEW MEXICO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS GROWING AND HE FEELS THEY SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IN THE ELECTIVE PROCESS.
