Telli v. Snipes

I. Factual Background

Both parties stipulate that the facts are not in dispute. Plaintiff, a registered Republican, filed suit seeking to “open” the Democratic Party’s primary election for the office of Broward County Commissioner for District 7. The plaintiff relies on the Universal Primary Amendment (“UPA”), which amended Art. VI, § 5 of the Florida Constitution to read: “If all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election, all qualified electors, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the primary elections for…