Rubin

— Three small political parties and several party members and candidates sought to invalidate California’s electoral system for statewide and legislative offices, contending the system, which consists of an open nonpartisan election followed by a runoff between the “top-two” candidates, deprives them of equal protection and associational and voting rights secured by the state and federal Constitutions. According to plaintiffs, because “minor party” candidates are typically eliminated in the primary election, they are denied the constitutional right to participate in the general election upon a showing of substantial public support. Plaintiffs also contend their associational rights are violated by the effective limitation of their participation to the primary election, when voter participation is typically less than half that of the general election. In addition, plaintiffs claim the electoral system denies them equal protection because they are no longer able to regularly participate in the general election, as they were under the prior electoral system. Finally, plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in granting a demurrer to their complaint, without permitting them a…