Answer :
Final answer:
The Supreme Court found blanket primaries unconstitutional because they infringed on the right to freedom of association. The correct answer is b.
Explanation:
The right to freedom of association: This is because political parties are considered associative groups, and a blanket primary, which allows voters to select candidates from any party in a primary election, interferes with the party's ability to associate freely and choose its own candidates. The Equal Protection Clause, mentioned in the Fourteenth Amendment, ensures that no state may 'deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws'.
However, the specific case against blanket primaries was based on the parties' argument that such a primary violates their right to freedom of association, which is a different aspect of constitutional protections than the Equal Protection Clause. This right is critical as it pertains to the abilities of organizations, including political parties, to manage their internal affairs without outside interference.
