Lawmakers vote to cancel 2012 presidential primary

The state Legislature has approved a plan to cancel Washington's 2012 presidential primary, an action estimated to save about $10 million in the next two-year budget.

The House approved SB 5119 Tuesday with a 69-28 vote. The bill, requested by Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed, would allow the state to skip the presidential primary.

Instead, nominees would be decided by caucuses where people within individual precincts discuss and vote collectively on the candidate, and pick delegates to attend the parties' political conventions.

Opponents, including some Republicans, argued that canceling the primary would exclude certain voters — including those serving in the military overseas or who don't have time to participate in the caucuses — from the political process.

The Legislature approved the presidential primary in 1989 as part of a people's initiative.

"The people sent an initiative to the Legislature. They wanted a presidential primary. I believe it's one of the core functions of government and what's more American than voting?" Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, said in arguing against the bill.

Other lawmakers said that canceling the primary until the 2016 election year is necessary to save money.

The bill now heads to the Governor's Office, where Gregoire is expected to signed it into law. The measure cleared the Senate with a 34-15 vote earlier this month.

Queenie Wong: 360-236-8267 or qwong@seattletimes.com