Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut

Appellee Republican Party of the State of Connecticut (Party) in 1984 adopted a Party rule which permits independent voters — registered voters not affiliated with any political party — to vote in Republican primaries for federal and statewide offices. Appellant Julia Tashjian, the Secretary of the State of Connecticut, is charged with the administration of the State’s election statutes, which include a provision requiring voters in any party primary to be registered mem*211bers of that party. Conn. Gen. Stat. §9-431 (1985).1 Appellees, who in addition to the Party include the Party’s federal…