Section 17-16-5

Primary elections not compulsory; election by political party whether to come under provisions of chapter; presumption of acceptance of chapter.

Primary elections are not compulsory. A political party may, by its state executive committee, elect whether it will come under the primary election law. All political parties are presumed to have accepted and come under the provisions of the primary election law, but any political party may signify its election not to accept and come under the primary election law by filing with the Secretary of State, at least 60 days before the date herein fixed for the holding of any general primary election, a statement of the action of its state executive committee, certified by its chairman and secretary, which statement shall contain a copy of the resolution or motion adopted declining to accept and come under the primary election law. If a political party declines to accept and come under the primary election law, it shall not change its action and accept and come under the primary election law until after the next general election held thereafter. The governing body of a political party may determine from time to time what party officers shall be elected in the primary; provided, that candidates for all party offices shall be elected under the provisions of this chapter unless the method of their election is otherwise directed by the governing body of the party involved.

(Acts 1975, No. 1196, p. 2349, §1.)