Give independent voters an equal say

The recent Supreme Court decision in the Arizona Redistricting case put the issue of voter rights front and center. In a victory for nonpartisan democracy, the court held that the voters - not the legislature - had the power to shape the election process.

Little has been said by any presidential candidate, of any party, about this decision, least of all Hillary Clinton, who began her campaign kickoff with a speech at Texas Southern University on voting rights. There, she berated the Republican Party for voter suppression and fear mongering about voter fraud. Good point. She advocated for basic reforms including restoration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which provides a mechanism to protect the rights of African American and Latino voters. Another good point.

But, what was telling about Hillary's democracy rhetoric is what was missing: the rights of independent voters - now 42 percent of the country - and the need to reform the primary system to make it inclusive and nonpartisan. Without addressing those issues, her voting rights appeal is, in effect, another form of voter fraud.

Historically, voting rights questions have revolved around the status of African American and Latino voters, and, of course, women, who were legally enfranchised by the 14th, 15th and 19th amendments. The Civil Rights Movement translated its vision of non-discrimination and racial equality into the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Since then, the voting rights cause has centered on protecting voters of color and ensuring their full admittance to the political process. This struggle is far from over.

At the same time, a new self-selected political constituency has arisen in America, the independent voter. Tired of partisanship and self-dealing, this group includes an increasing number of voters of color. Does Hillary Clinton, voting rights 'champion,” intend to speak for them, too?

In 2007, Hillary ran around the country, trading on her husband's popularity, presenting herself as the candidate of African Americans. At the time, the country's leading Black independent, Dr. Lenora Fulani, an early Obama supporter, asked 'Who decided Hillary was best for the Black community?” Black America decided she wasn't. These days, I'm asking another question. Who decided Hillary is the champion of voting rights?

Surveys show that 31 percent of African Americans between 18-29 consider themselves independent. There are similar trends among other voters of color. In states like Arizona for example, 50 percent of Latinos are independents. Come the presidential primary there on March 29, they'll not be permitted to vote in either party primary, because those primaries are a 'members only” affair. They won't even be able to vote for Hillary Clinton! Isn't that a conspicuous form of voter suppression?

Young people coming of age politically - more than half of whom identify as independents - also will find themselves locked out of primary voting. In nearly every state, meanwhile, the taxpayers are footing the bill for an exclusionary system.

Hillary has proclaimed that Americans are 'problem solvers” and that 'our political system is so paralyzed in gridlock” that the American people have lost trust in government. However, she says, 'We don't hide from change, we harness it.”

Hillary, here's your chance to do that. Don't hide from the fact that 42 percent of Americans are independents. Don't demean the cause of voting rights, to suit your political purposes. Fight to give all voters - including independents - the chance to vote and to build bridges together, regardless of party affiliation. That's how the American people solve problems.

My message to Hillary, woman to woman, is this. If you are not prepared to challenge your own party to fight for voter freedom for all the American people, then you shouldn't be president. And that goes for Jeb and Bernie and Carly and Rand and Marco and Martin and the rest. When they come to your state, the independents will have to tell them so.

' Jacqueline Salit is author of Independents Rising and president of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independent voters seeking full inclusion in elections. Salit ran Mike Bloomberg's campaigns on the Independence Party line in New York City and is working with numerous unorthodox coalitions to give voters the opportunity to choose a nonpartisan election system. Comments: (800) 288-3201; www.IndependentVoting.org