Party activists against open primary ballot measure

This November, Matthew Barad, 18, will vote in his first presidential election.

He supported Bernie Sanders in the Super Tuesday caucus, then switched to unaffiliated the next day.

“We managed to get a candidate for the Republican and Democratic party who are the least popular in history,” Barad said. “Nobody is happy with the candidate they’re going to end up with.”

According to Let Colorado Vote, the campaign behind this initiative, more than 300,000 Coloradans signed two primary-themed petitions that will likely be on the ballot this fall.

One measure brings the presidential primary back to Colorado for the first time since 2000.

The other would make other statewide primaries open to all voters, including the large numbers of unaffiliateds or independents.

It’s a move staunch Democrat Cyndy Kulp opposes.

“The primary is for the party to choose their nominees,” Kulp said. “People who are affiliated with the party should have a voice in that, the people who support the party with their votes, with their money, ideology, volunteer work.”

Republican Secretary of State Wayne Williams is on the same page as Kulp.

“I believe in the process we have, where you affiliate and you have the opportunity to say this is part of my values, my party and I’m making the decision,” Williams said.

Barad looks forward to voting “YES.”

“In places like Colorado Springs, if you don’t register as a Republican, you pretty much don’t get a say on who gets elected,” Barad said. “Having an open primary would ensure everybody who has a chance to get elected has to appeal to the broader base.”

The caucus in March saw a record turnout for Democrats, about 14 percent.

Without the presidential straw poll, only six percent of Republicans showed up.