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Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates has announced that the Kansas Democratic Party will open the August 1, 2006 Primary to unaffiliated voters. The Democratic Primary was first opened for the 2004 election. The decision this year was made after extensive consultation with the Kansas Democratic Party Executive Committee, elected officials and Kansas Democrats.

"I believe that allowing unaffiliated voters to join Democrats as we choose our candidates will strengthen our candidates and continue our long tradition of inclusion as a Party," Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates said. "I feel this decision is consistent with the long-time reputation of Democrats as the Party of inclusion, welcoming opportunities to involve potential new members in the Democratic process."

Political parties were given the option to open their primaries after an April 2004 ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. This ruling struck down an Oklahoma law that limited participation in that state's primaries to party members and unaffiliated voters who agreed to change their affiliation at the poll.

"While the Republican Party becomes more polarized, Kansas Democrats continue to provide independent, commonsense candidates," Gates said. "As Kansans have more opportunity to choose, we believe they will look to the Democratic Party for leaders who will work to find solutions to the issues of education, health care, jobs and safe neighborhoods."