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SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Thursday allowing independent voters to participate in primary elections, moving to salvage a wide-open process thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The “blanket” system approved by voters in 1996 and overturned in June let voters of any – or no – party choose any candidate in primaries. 

The new law permits independent voters to participate in primaries, but limits them to voting for one party’s candidates. It takes effect next year, and its impact will be felt in 2002, the year Davis and other statewide officials will be up for re-election. 

Ballots cast by independents would only be accepted by political parties that consented to do so. Both major parties signaled Thursday they are inclined to allow the independent voters to participate. 

Voters registered with a party will once again be permitted only to choose candidates affiliated with their party. 

“While this bill will not fully reinstate the open primary, it will ensure broader participation in primary elections than voters would otherwise enjoy,” the Democratic governor said. 

The Democratic and Republican parties bitterly fought the blanket primary approved in 1996, contending it violated their association rights by letting voters choose any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. 

Davis unsuccessfully sought to preserve that system, arguing in a brief filed with the court that it was healthy for democracy. 

While that position placed Davis at odds with his own party, Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres praised Davis’ move Thursday. 

Davis’ signature “now moves the state in the direction of compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, and we thank the governor for that,” Torres said. 

Davis believes the new law “lives within the constraints imposed by the high court ruling,” said spokesman Phil Trounstine. 

Independents account for 2 million of the state’s 14.6 million registered voters, and their numbers have grown steadily in the last two decades. 

With the new law, independents – officially known as “decline-to-states” — become California’s most hotly pursued bloc in primary season, along with Hispanics. 

The state’s independents appear evenly split in their political leanings. 

In a recent survey, the Public Policy Institute of California found 35 percent of “decline-to-state” voters were drawn to Democrats, 31 percent to Republicans and 30 percent to neither, said pollster Mark Baldassare. 

State GOP Chairman John McGraw has endorsed the new open primary, and the party will vote on it at a February gathering. Democrats also approve and are expected to formally allow “decline-to-state” primary votes at a December gathering. 

Davis also signed a bill that allows voters to register 15 days before an election, instead of 29 as current law requires. 

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On the Net: 

Read the open primary bill, SB28, and the registration bill, AB1094, at http://www.sen.ca.gov