Missouri GOP panel backs closed primaries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Only voters registered with a party could vote in Missouri primaries under a policy change some state Republicans want to see adopted.

The proposal for closed primaries gained momentum last week after Missouri Republican State Committee members in a voice vote backed the potential switch. But such a change would need to pass the Legislature after the 2017 session begins in January.

Missouri voters now can choose whether to vote in a Republican or Democratic primary, regardless of party affiliation. A closed primary system would allow only registered Republicans to pick GOP nominees.

State GOP chairman John Hancock said Monday the idea of closed primaries is to keep Democrats from voting in Republican primaries and vice versa.

Unlike this year in Missouri, which featured contested presidential primaries for Republicans and Democrats, Hancock said the policy would help most when only one party faces a tight race.

"It keeps the other party from tampering in your primaries, for the most part," Hancock said.

Hancock said Republicans have discussed closing primaries for years. He said pushback has included concerns that required party registration would help Democrats, who then could access a list of voters who identify with that party.

Democratic state committee chairman Roy Temple said he hasn't heard of any formal proposals related to party registration.

But he said there's still time before the Democratic state convention in mid-June. He said if it comes up, it likely will be a source of "vigorous debate."

"There are some activists who believe that choosing the nominee should be left to those people most actively involved, and if you want to choose the nominee then you should be an active member of the party," Temple said. Others want "as broad a participation in the process as possible."