Supreme Court rules out Wisconsin primary law
February 26, 1981
Washington
The Supreme Court struck down Wisconsin's open presidential primary law, which allows "crossover" voting by nonparty members. The court, ruling 6 to 3, held that the Democratic National Party enjoys a constitutionally protected right of political association under the First Amendment, and may exclude Republicans and independents from voting in its primary.
Three other states -- Michigan, Montana, and Idaho -- have open primaries to select delegates to the national conven tions.