Presidential Primary Idea Could Be Part Of Special Session Mix

A plan to move the state’s presidential primary up from May 2016 to March 2016 has drawn the interest of national politicos and state officials alike.

The only question may be whether or not the idea is part of a special session, set to start May 26 in Little Rock.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday that a session would be held to discuss approving a bond issue on an economic development project.

The project would include helping Lockheed Martin secure a contract with the United States Army and the Marine Corps to build the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at Highland Industrial Park in Camden, Talk Business and Politics reported Monday.

If the contract is approved, the bond issue would create nearly 600 jobs and help with the 550 jobs already at the park.

PRIMARY
The primary idea was supported during the regular session and was approved March 27 by the state Senate on a 20-5 vote.

However, the bill, Senate Bill 389, died in a House committee when the session was adjourned.

Under the bill, voters would have headed to the polls on March 1 as part of a so-called “SEC Primary” involving several states in the region that were combining Presidential primary elections.

Hutchinson told reporters after the Political Animals Club meeting that he was still talking with legislators about a change and was “weighing that option.”

House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, also said the issue was very much under consideration.

“We’re anticipating that there’s a high probability that it will be on the call, but we don’t know for sure,” Gillam told reporters, noting it would likely depend on the content of any bill.

IDEAS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Several ideas have floated on the primary idea.

One idea would involve moving the presidential primary to March, but keeping the other party primaries in May.

Jason Cline, a spokesman for Secretary of State Mark Martin, said that option would cost about $1.5 million to do and that funding has already been appropriated for the change.

Cline said Martin supports the move, noting the funding would come from the State Board of Election Commissioners budget, already approved by legislators and signed into law.

Another idea would involve moving both the presidential and party primaries to March, eliminating the May vote.

According to election officials working on the issue, that change could cost between $2.5 and $3 million.

Any change to March could likely include a change in the date for the state’s fiscal session, which starts Feb. 8 in Little Rock, officials have said.

Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, who sponsored the Senate bill earlier in the session, said he supports moving the primary.

“It gives Arkansans an opportunity to say who the nominees are,” Stubblefield said, noting nominees are typically determined in the first four contests – Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

The Arkansas primary could draw up to 15 Republicans and six Democrats to decide each party’s nominee, Stubblefield said.

Stubblefield, who said he has known former Gov. Mike Huckabee for 40 years but has not endorsed anyone so far, said the change could provide a “huge economic impact” in the state, through candidates setting up offices, hiring staff and spending money on media.

The possibility of a change also drew the comment of a state Democratic party official.

“The Democratic Party of Arkansas has remained neutral on the bill that would move the presidential primary up to earlier in the year; however, we oppose any legislation that would cost additional tax dollars or place undue burdens on our local county clerks and election commissions,” Arkansas Democratic Party executive director Candace Martin said.

2016 CALENDAR TAKING SHAPE
While the Arkansas political calendar for 2016 is not set, other states are.

According to both www.thegreenpapers.com and the National Association of Secretaries of State websites, the 2016 presidential primary calendar has already started filling up.

After Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, tentatively set during the month of February 2016, at least 10 states will have their primaries and caucuses during March 2016.

Several neighboring and regional states have already set their primary dates as well.

Tennessee, which will have an Aug. 4 congressional primary next year, is scheduled to have a March 1 presidential primary.

Louisiana has set its caucuses for March 5, 2016, while Missouri and Florida have set their primaries for March 15, 2016.

Texas is tentatively set for March 1, while Virginia is set on the same day, the websites noted.