Ruling’s impact overstated

The guest column by Doug Parris (Jan. 23) claims that Judge Coughenour overturned the entire system for electing grass-roots party officials in the state of Washington. Judge Coughenour did no such thing.

The argument that Judge Coughenour settled was about the mechanism for electing political party precinct committee officers. The parties objected to Washington Administrative Code 434-230-100 (5)(c), which states: “If you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican, you may vote for a candidate of that party.”

Judge Coughenour wrote, “The Republican and Democratic parties are not satisfied that the voters’ in-the-moment self-consideration of party association is sufficient to identify its true party members.” What would satisfy the political parties is the addition of a party oath, the use of a separate ballot or the addition of “a box indicating affiliation with the particular party” for a voter to check.

The secretary of state adopted the disputed regulation in 2008. (Judge Coughenour has not overturned something from 1907 but from 2008.) The secretary of state could correct the disputed language by revising WAC 434-230-100, especially (5)(c).

In short, the secretary of state created the problem. He should fix it.

Matthew F. Pfefer

Spokane Valley