Voters approve Prop. 14, open primary measure

SF Chronical ^ | Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | Wyatt Buchanan,Carolyn Jones

[BenLurkin]

Californians approved a measure Tuesday that will dramatically change how voters choose candidates in elections - and could mean that two Republicans or two Democrats would end up as voters' only choices in a general election.

Proposition 14, known as the open primary measure, will give every voter the same ballot in primary elections for most state and federal races, except the presidential contest. The two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Prop. 14 had the strong backing of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, who said it could help break the gridlock at the state Capitol by giving voters more control over who appears on the ballot.

"This sends a clear message that Californians are tired of partisan gridlock and dysfunction and want a system where representatives put what's best for California ahead of extreme partisan doctrine," the governor said in a statement.

The measure would apply to all legislative and state races, and it is not expected to increase the cost of holding primaries. It also eliminates write-in candidates from general elections and makes it more difficult for minor parties to gain official recognition from the state.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/09/MN0V1DNDMQ.DTL#ixzz0qMyXdCKA

[BenLurkin]

VERY bad news.

[SueRae]

I was wondering about Freeper thoughts...this confirms it. This could and will be abused..shutting out good candidates by having crossovers from other parties to crash a primary...

[skeeter]

What would we expect? Goes well with our senator and gubernatorial picks.

To imagine I've spent so much time on this board defending the dingbat voters in this state.

[ClearCase_guy]

California is now stomping on the accelerator as they head over the cliff.

[Navy Patriot]

California voters again prove their intelligence does not rise to a sub human standard.

Must be the public skewls.

[BenLurkin]

There are those here who favor open primaries. This is just my opinion.

A long time local TV lefty was ecstatic this morning as she crowed over the measure passing. I am not looking forward to a “choice” of voting for only Democrat candidates -- which is what to expect in this State.

The gridlock in Sacramento has been a good thing for this state.

[SZonian]

This was MALdonado's 30 pieces of silver for selling out the CA taxpayers last year when he was the LAST RINO to cross over and vote for the LARGEST state tax increase in US history.

FUAM!!!

[The_Victor]

Why bother with primaries at all?

This is a general election followed by a runoff with the top two candidates.

[cartoonistx]

Republicans are already talking about using a caucus system to pick a single candidate to run in primaries. It's gonna be even MORE partisan in the long run. Caucuses produce "true believer" types not consensus candidates. The primary will become just round one of the general election!

[SZonian]

The "gridlock" has been about the only thing keeping the RATS from driving this state right off the cliff.

We're so screwed...

[scory]

So this could very easily have the effect of turning the state into a one-party regime (something already largely accomplished by gerrymandering). I suppose the remedy would be to pick candidates in party caucuses or at a party convention and not submit them for a broad vote.

[BenLurkin]

Si.

[Right Cal Gal]

I voted NO and don’t know anyone who voted yes - must be all those fabulous State union workers.

The fact that those morons Schwarzenkennedy and Maldonado are in favor of it tells me it’s NOT good for the voters. Maldonado now faces that punk Gavin Newsome in the general for Lt. Governor.

Two Republicans on the ballot - yeah, right. Like that’ll happen in this state. More likely two Democrats.

[Navy Patriot]

To imagine I've spent so much time on this board defending the dingbat voters in this state.

Yep, that was a mistake.

[SZonian]

Yeah, but were you defending the moonbat voters? ;-)

[LouAvul]

the only thing keeping the RATS from driving this state right off the cliff.

Dude, kalifornia's been off the cliff for several years. You just haven't hit bottom yet.

[Jack Black]

We have this in Washington State.

I don’t think it is as solidly pro-Donk as they hoped.
For one thing it assures that there are no Libertarians or Constitution Party (or Green, Socialist) candidates on the final ballot.

My take is that there are more right-leaning 3rd party voters than left, this sort of tends to push them into the R camp on election day.

[SZonian]

There are a lot of things about CA that have gone off the cliff, no argument there.

As for the political side...

I used to think it was teetering on the cliff, just waiting for that last little nudge to push it over the edge or for someone to reach out and pull the state back from the brink.

That nudge came last night.

[NormsRevenge]

Incompetent Clueless CaGoP voted out of existence.
Bad News?

There’s a silver lining to everything..

[chris_bdba]

I guess the democrats in California wanted to ensure their bankrupsy sooner? I can just see them voting in only democrats in primaries then you would have a choice between bad and worse.