Primary election: Difference between revisions
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Because many Washingtonians were disappointed over the loss of the blanket primary, which the Washington State Grange helped institute in 1935, the Grange filed Initiative 872 in 2004 to establish a qualifying primary for partisan races, thereby allowing voters to once again cross party lines in the primary election. Supporters claimed it would bring back voter choice; opponents said it would exclude third parties and independents from general election ballots, would result in Democrat or Republican-only races in certain districts, and would in fact reduce voter choice. The initiative was put to a public vote in November 2004 and passed. |
Because many Washingtonians were disappointed over the loss of the blanket primary, which the Washington State Grange helped institute in 1935, the Grange filed Initiative 872 in 2004 to establish a qualifying primary for partisan races, thereby allowing voters to once again cross party lines in the primary election. Supporters claimed it would bring back voter choice; opponents said it would exclude third parties and independents from general election ballots, would result in Democrat or Republican-only races in certain districts, and would in fact reduce voter choice. The initiative was put to a public vote in November 2004 and passed. |
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In elections using [[voting system]]s where [[strategic nomination]] is a concern, primaries can be very important in preventing "clone" candidates that split their constituency's vote because of their similarities. Primaries allow political parties to select and unite behind one candidate. |
In elections using [[voting system]]s where [[strategic nomination]] is a concern, primaries can be very important in preventing "[[clone]]" candidates that split their constituency's vote because of their similarities. Primaries allow political parties to select and unite behind one candidate. |
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In the United States, the small state of New Hampshire draws national attention every four years because it has the first U.S. presidential primary. (In 2004, the Washington, DC primary had the distinction of being the first in the nation; however, it was only binding for the Green Party. The Democratic Party's vote in the primary was non-binding, and only 4 of the 9 Democratic candidates were listed on ballots.) |
In the United States, the small state of New Hampshire draws national attention every four years because it has the first U.S. presidential primary. (In 2004, the Washington, DC primary had the distinction of being the first in the nation; however, it was only binding for the Green Party. The Democratic Party's vote in the primary was non-binding, and only 4 of the 9 Democratic candidates were listed on ballots.) |
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* ''Closed.'' Voters may only vote in a primary if they are registered members of that party. |
* ''Closed.'' Voters may only vote in a primary if they are registered members of that party. |
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* ''Semi-open.'' Voters registered with a party may only vote in the primary of their party. Independents may choose which primary to vote in at the voting booth. |
* ''Semi-open.'' Voters registered with a party may only vote in the primary of their party. Independents may choose which primary to vote in at the voting booth. |
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* ''Blanket.'' No longer in use, allowed voters to vote in either primary, switching party primaries with each office (Ex. Republican Presidential primary, Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, Republican Congressional Primary). |
* ''Blanket.'' Also called a "jungle primary". No longer in use, allowed voters to vote in either primary, switching party primaries with each office (Ex. Republican Presidential primary, Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, Republican Congressional Primary). |
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* ''Run-off.'' If no candidate receives a majority (50%) the top two candidates may face-off in a run-off election. |
* ''Run-off.'' If no candidate receives a majority (50%) the top two candidates may face-off in a [[Runoff voting|run-off]] election. |
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Other ways that parties may select their candidates include [[caucus]]es and [[political convention|convention]]s. |
Other ways that parties may select their candidates include [[caucus]]es and [[political convention|convention]]s. |
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== Notes == |
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Partisan primary elections tend to result in a [[center squeeze effect]]; a candidate liked by all voters can theoretically be eliminated from contention because more partisan voters prefer candidates closer to their views, to the detriment of more centrist nonpartisan voters who don't vote in primaries. This is a major reason why the "[[W:Unified primary|unified primary]]" ([[Approval voting]] + [[runoff]]) was advocated; it was argued that centrist candidates would have a better chance of avoiding elimination if partisans could support both their favorite candidates and the compromise candidates because of the Approval feature, rather than only choosing one, as in [[FPTP]]. |
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[[Category:Voting theory]] |
[[Category:Voting theory]] |
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