Posted on 12/16/2008 4:48:20 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday plans to discuss his goals for political reform that may include a push to change California's primary election laws.
The governor and those close to him who helped spearhead the recent change in the state's redistricting laws are expected to voice suport for open primaries, which would allow voters to cast primary ballots for any candidate, regardless of partisan affiliation. A ballot initiative could be before voters by 2010, perhaps even earlier, to change the state's primary laws.
Schwarzenegger has already signaled his support of an open primary. That issue - and others - are expected to be covered Wednesday by the governor in a public briefing on political reform.
"He (the governor) believes we need to have a robust debate about that and other political issues," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "You can anticipate that, as he has through his governorship, he will continue to push for political reform."
One view of the partisan paralysis gripping the California Legislature is that it could be eased by embracing open primary elections, in which voters can cast ballots for any candidate regardless of party affiliation. The notion is not new - some 13 states already have open primaries and 20 more have variants, and California had open primaries in 1998, before its law was thrown out by the courts. But reformers, the governor and others now see open primaries in California as a possible answer to a Capitol frozen in partisan gridlock.
The political parties themselves remain opposed, however, and during the past decade voters have tended to agree, turning down two attempts to open up the primaries.
But California voters, in a signal that change could be looming, recently approved the creation of a bipartisan, independent commission to draw the boundaries for 120 legislative and four Board of Equalization districts, taking that authority away from the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Before the November election, Gov. Schwarzenegger said in Los Angeles that redistricting was the most important first step. "And of course, the next thing is open primaries. That's how we have to walk down that road and create the real change and not stay with the status quo."
California Forward, a nonprofit political group that played a significant role in the passage of Proposition 11, the redistricting measure, is looking at the possibility of changes to the primary election process. The group says its overarching goal is to ensure confidence and trust in the election process. California Forward, which is in the midst of researching the primary election issue, has not set a timeline for its reform proposals, if any, although others interested in primary election changes see the 2010 ballot as a likely target, even sooner.
"Elections should be designed for voters, not for protecting incumbents or elected officials," said California Forward's Zabrae Valentine. "There is a good chance that this reform area (open primary) could be part of the solution." She noted that a number of other options also might improve the existing primary, including removing the partisan designations on candidates or allowing voters to register without identifying their party affiliation.
"Any thying we can do to improve trust and confidence is worth looking at," Valentine added. "No single reform will do that."
California Common Cause, a sponsor of Proposition 11, also is looking at open primaries. Common Cause notes there are a number of possibilities, including same-day election registration, a fully open primary and the so-called "top two" formula, in which the top two vote-getters in the primary face off in the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
In election-day registration, voters request the party ballot of their choice. Like California Forward, Common Cause is examining the options.
"We are particularly interested in election-day registration," said Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause. "In November 2008, we saw a lot of voters try to vote who were turned away. They were convinced they had registered to vote, but because of the turnout, they weren't in the system." Election-day registration, she added, would help alleviate that problem.
"We think election-day registration allows people who are legitimately able to vote to express that on election day. It would allow for an open primary, like Michigan, and it would eliminate the ‘criss-cross," she added. The "criss-cross," the bane of the two major parties, allows registrants of one party to vote in another's primary - a move they believe causes political mischief.
The purpose of a primary election is to select the party's candidate. In a fully open primary, any voter can vote for any candidate. In a fully closed primary, voters can only vote for a candidate from their own party. In either case, the general election remains unchanged: Voters can vote for whomever they want.
California has what is called a modified closed primary. In this system, the parties determine whether those registered as declined-to-state can vote in the party's primary election. Generally, that means declined-to-state voters can cast ballots in most primaries except presidential and party leadership positions.
One statewide race, the superintendent of Public Instruction, is nonpartisan. The contenders are listed on the ballot by name, but not party. If candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, the race is over. If no candidate wins 50 percent, a runoff election is held in November during the general election.
Schwarzenegger's signaling that he'd like for California to start using that system seems to point toward the Golden State no longer taking the lead in innovation, cultural or otherwise.
Primaries should be closed. Let the people who take the time to register as a Rep or Dem and choose to get involved and informed about the process choose their respective candidates.
I think the GOP should close all of its primaries in 2012 to ensure that our candidates are chosen by Republican voters, not independents and moderates.
Great, Arnold just admit it. You're a Democrat in Republican clothing and this is a chance to make sure there never is a decent conservative Republican running in the state of California.
It’s not a good idea because the Democrats will try to pick the least viable Republican candidate that they can — then — beat up on...
Pity. I'm quite happy to have others take the lead in innovation -- while I hang back from the bleeding edge (at least where it counts).
Many believe we have can thank open primaries and crossover voters for nominating John McCain for us. No doubt, the blue states picked the Republican nominee this year, but they sure as hell didn’t vote for him in the general election.
I can certainly see where this innovation would help Gov. Schwartzeneggar and other “moderate” Republicans.
Since they totally blur any distinction between them and the Democrats with their “principles”, it helps them to draw from the other party and be successful in the primary.
With this kind of innovation which really eliminates ideology, they hope I think to reduce the election system to a poll on popularity and celebrity. A huge plus for the California governor’s future prospects.
Exactly! Oklahoma continues to have a closed primary system after SCOTUS ruled in our favor.
I hate open primaries — close them all or send those that want open primaries to the end of the line for voting.
The RNC needs to totally OPPOSE this.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The egg-heads have studied voting for years. One man one vote is about the worst possible system.
Other voting systems, like Range Voting tend to produce much better results overall.
“I seem to remember a guy on the radio, suggesting just such a crossover program, had a catchy name too.”
Tit for tat. Another reason to have closed primaries. The major parties should be able to select their presidential nominee without mischievous meddling from non-party members.
thanks goldstategop.
GOP budget plan ripped by gov, Democrats
Capitol Weekly | 12/15/08 | Anthony York
Posted on 12/16/2008 4:46:03 PM PST by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2149887/posts
It’s no big secret that Arnold wants to run for U.S. Senator against Barbara Boxer when his term as Governor ends in 2010. But an open primary is necessary for him to be able to win the Republican nomination against a variety of conservative candidates. I expect Arnold to call a special election in 2009 to try to pass this in time for 2010.
Arnold’s plan may very well work. There’s at least an even chance that voters will approve the open primary system. Arnold could then attract enough non-Republicans in the open Republican primary to win a plurality. In the general election Arnold will get votes from Republicans who consider him the lesser evil compared to Boxer, along with a fair number of Democrats and Independents to compensate for his losses among pissed-off conservatives, to enable him to squeeze out a victory.
Make him a deal. He gets his primary in exchange for a law REQUIRING candidates to show their Birth Certificate....so Arnold can’t get on the ballot to be elected to Prez, ......or a certain somebody can’t get on the ballot to get re-elcted without showing his BC.
We have open primaries here in Montana. Open primaries are made to order for people who want to manipulate the electoral process. To be more specific, it has given Democrats a weapon to use against Republicans.
Democrats have registered as Republicans in order to increase the number of candidates in a particular contest to split the Republican vote. In the race for County Commissioner in Ravalli County in 2007 two of those fakes, in an editorial in a local paper on election day, asked Republican voters to jump ship and vote for the Democratic candidates.
In a senatorial race a strange old man who made campaign speeches about the superiority of the Parlimentary system of government and discussed the Treaty of Versailles received 10,000 votes. He beat out a Republican who may not have won, but was a genuine, viable candidate.
This man is a perrenial candidate who runs for office frequently. He has run as a Democrat in most of the contests he has been involved in. I have said publically that this eccentric received Democratic Party votes in order to present the weakest Republican possible in the Senatorial race. My position was, (and is), that in the Democratic contest for president some of them voted in the Republican primary.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are both on the far left politically. While many Democrats wanted the opportunity to vote for Barack Obama, they knew that policy wise either of their candidates would govern from the far left.
Now Schwartzenegger wants open primaries in California, which does not surprise me because he is in reality a Democrat. He also believes that supporting open primaries will boost his approval ratings. He joins John McCain in being basically a RINO. We can all see what they have done to the Republican Party and to America.
Open primaries will ONLY benefit dumbocrats. Fitting that Arnie the democrat supports this.
Open primaries gave us McCain. Is there more to be said?
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