Primary Independents

By Gabe Bullard

Frankfort, KY – A bill that will go before the Kentucky General Assembly this year would allow Independents a vote in the state's primaries. Republican Representative Jimmy Higdon has pre-filed the measure, which would let Independents cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primary without having to change their registration. Higdon says some of his constituents couldn't vote in the 2008 presidential primaries, and they've asked him to sponsor the bill.

There's quite a few of those in Kentucky. I know in my representative district, there's about a thousand voters who are registered as independent or other.

Higdon says his bill is limited to registered Independents and would not include other so-called third parties. The 2009 General Assembly session begins January 6th.