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New Mexico Considers Opening Primary Vote To Independents

New Mexico lawmakers are considering a proposal to open Democratic and Republican primary elections to any voter amid a surge in independent voter registration.

House Democrats announced the proposal Monday to switch the state to an open primary system in which voters can cast a primary ballot for the candidate of their preference without respect to party affiliations.

Currently, only Republicans and Democrats can vote in their respective primary elections in New Mexico. Critics say that contributes to low voter turnout.

A lawsuit challenging the state's two-party primary system is pending in the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

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