Posted on 04/14/2023 5:30:28 AM PDT by cotton1706
HELENA, Mont. — Republicans typically cry foul when accused of rewriting election laws to benefit their candidates. But as the Montana legislature debates a new voting bill, even some GOP lawmakers concede that this one appears designed to help them win elections — more precisely, one very important election.
The bill would rewrite the rules for the state’s next U.S. Senate race and only that race. The 2024 fight to oust Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, is expected to be one of the tightest in the country.
The legislation would shift the contest from a traditional election into a “top two” primary system, making it exceedingly difficult for third parties to reach a general election ballot. Some believe the system would keep the state’s vibrant Libertarian Party from siphoning votes from the Republican nominee.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I grew up here, left for Portland in the late 1990s after graduating from MSU, and just returned last year because Portland has finally been destroyed and I wanted to get back with people whose politics align with mine. Loving it back in eastern MT.
Even most of Europe has changed their voting rules. Voted ID required.
Wow something so simple could save a nation.
Based on your name, sounds like we’re neighbors. Between the hunting, fishing and raising kids in something that resembles the America I grew up in, MT is the best place I’ve ever lived. I’m maybe a few years younger than you and as I said in the other post, I know lots of folks who fled the big cities for MT.
California doesn’t have ranked choice voting for state or federal offices. A few municipalities have it.
In Alaska, what it demonstrated is that a lot of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents would prefer a Democrat to Sarah Palin. It’s not the system’s fault that they feel that way.
Top 2 is not ranked choice. Very different animals.
Do they have any stores up there? A movie theater? Or any entertainment at all. Unless you are outdoorsy, they don’t have much to do? I heard no internet or cable. I guess working the farms doesn’t allow time for much else. The mail comes how often? Every three weeks? I just can’t imagine. But that’s why I’m in Florida.
Bozeman???
Either you left odd the sarc/ tag or are a complete moron.
odd = off
Is this satire?
I live in the fastest growing city under 100k people in the USA. Movie theatre, Whole Foods, major university with 18k enrollment, tons of hip bars and restaurants.
Yes, if you aren’t into skiing, fly fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, ice fishing - then you’re in the wrong place and not taking advantage of what MT has to offer.
Yes, mail is slow… maybe 2 drops a week. Perfect… that’s means I’m just enough off the grid.
I don’t know a single farm worker. Everyone I know works in finance, has a remote tech job, is some sort of professional, etc.
I’ve lived all over the country…. Montana has the most ‘normal’ people of anywhere in the country in my experience.
While I agree in theory that this is a bad idea, we are at the “whatever it takes” point. I am tired of playing by the Marques of Queensbury rules while the Dems rig the outcomes of elections.
Yes.
Boy I believe this years snow will send a few packing’ back home to wherever they came from...
We had a 3’ snow during Christmas in ‘96 here in Bozeman and I recall 20” on Easter morning in the late 80’s — hard to get to church that day!
Always nice to know there are a few FReepers here in the Bozone!
“top two” primary system, sounds like only two parties get to hold a primary. Doesn’t sound like ranked choice or jungle primary.
Yeah! It won’t stop this year! The storm a few weeks ago was something… I got 20” down here off south third. I know two families, both who moved last summer from California, who are moving back due to the weather! Hopefully the smoke will be much less this year as a result.
It’s bad when they do it, but good when we do it, according to some.
Dems crying, ‘Don’t throw me on that thar briar patch!’
This is not ranked voting, simply the top two vote getters move to the runoff. I don’t think this race to replace the Democrat will be as tough as the Times would like to think.
“It’ll fix the Tester problem, from getting him off the November ballot, and slipping into office again.”
Tester is in no way, shape or form going to be “off the November ballot” unless he decides to retire.
Anyone hyperventilating over the prospect of 2 Republicans and 0 Democrats (or vice versa) being on the ballot are completely delusional. As are those who are in a panic by thinking this new law would somehow equate to Rigged Choice Voting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.