PRESENTED BY FOUNDER AND FORMER STATE REP.BOB PERLSnmopenprimaries.org

New Mexico Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantees the right to vote.

Numerous Supreme Court decisions uphold concept that party-run primaries are public elections

Bob Perls is a registered independent voter.

Backing no horse in the partisan races.

Primaries are open or closed meaning a political party is the gatekeeper of who can vote.

New Mexico has a closed primary system meaning independent voters can’t vote in primary elections.

Taxpayers fund primary elections. 25 percent of New Mexicans and 45

percent of Americans are registered independent but are excluded from elections.

New Mexico anti-donation clause prohibits tax dollars from going to private organization.

Open primaries exist in over half the states and there are three options:

First and simplest on the reform continuum is allowing independents only to vote in party primaries.

Second, allow anyone to vote in either a Democratic or Republican primary.

Third, remove the power from political parties to control the first round elections and create a non-partisan (no labels) primary where all voters can vote and candidates run without party affiliation.

Nebraska, Washington and California have open, non-partisan primaries with the top two voter getters going to the general election.

Candidates and politicians now listen to a broad spectrum of opinions from the beginning.

More compromise, more coalition building

More problem solving!

What can you do? Take a brochure Volunteer to host a house party Donate “Like” us on Facebook and share our FB

page with friends. Follow us on Twitter Call your Representatives and Senators

Contact info: Bob Perls, Executive Director Phone: 505-259-2377 Address: 644 Dixon Road, Corrales, NM

87048 Web site: www.nmopenprimaries.com Make checks out to New Mexico Open

Primaries or donate on-line on the NMOP web site listed above.