Clingman v. Beaver

Summary

The Court held that Oklahoma's semiclosed primary system, which permits parties to invite party members and Independents but not members of other parties, does not violate associational rights because it imposes only a minor, nondiscriminatory burden justified by important state interests. The Court declined to consider respondents' broader challenge to other election laws because those claims were raised for the first time in the Supreme Court. Justice O'Connor concurred in part and warned that cumulative burdens from Oklahoma's election scheme might warrant closer review, while Justice Stevens dissented and would have found the statute unconstitutional.