Brian Doherty at Reason Online:
On June 8, Californians will get to vote on Proposition 14, which would eliminate the current party primary system in favor of one open primary in which anyone could vote for anyone regardless of party registration, the candidates could list or not list a party affiliation as they wished, and whoever the top 2 votegetters are, of whatever party, would go on to the general election. Polled support for the measure has been slipping lately, but is still above 50 percent (but with a large margin of undecided).
It is being sold as a way to crush Party inner circle poobahs from having too much power in choosing who gets to be the candidate. But third party activists from the Libertarian Party to Ralph Nader see it as just a way to ensure there is no possible third party choice for voters in general elections.
I survey the shape of the debate, with quotes and links galore,
at my California news and politics blog “City of Angles.” Go here for an anti-14 campaign led by LP candidate for California secretary of state, Christina Tobin. The official ballot arguments for and against Prop. 14. A similar measure in California’s northern neighbor Oregon failed big in 2008 after early leads in pre-election polls.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Week End Down Memory Lane......... Don Lake // Jun 6, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Now you tell us…………
If you are honest, alternative activists have been criticizing the current system (I personally have HATED the colonial, imperial Electoral College for half a century) and spot lighting IRV and other alternative systems through out the 21st Century!
2 Stewart Flood // Jun 6, 2010 at 1:27 pm
IRV and other systems are clearly better, but what we need to do now is stop this attempt to silence opposition to the state.
Anyone reading this that has made calls for California — you can catch up on IPR later…
PLEASE GET BACK ON THE PHONES AND MAKE MORE CALLS!!!
3 Gene Berkman // Jun 6, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Prop. 14 is largely a result of Sen. Abel Maldonado’s political ambition. He wants to be able to run for statewide office, and get the votes of Hispanic Democrats & Independents in the primary.
Under current law, he can appeal for the votes of independents, who are allowed to vote in the Republican primary. Abel Maldonado is now Lt Governor and seeking the nomination in next Tuesday’s primary.
While it will be gratifying to see him lose the primary, for several reasons, he is likely to be nominated under the current system. If Lt Governor Maldonado wins the primary on Tuesday, it will be proof that even he does not need prop. 14.
Leave a Comment