Is CA Prop 14 the answer to partisan politics?

[JEDIYoda]

It's as if you didn't read the details of the law that just passed.

for once i have to agree with Flavio....Drebo did not read the details....

 

[Patranus]

Pretty much eliminates any possibility of a 3rd party entering office.

 

[Deeko]

We have that here. It sucks.

 

[Fern]

I think this is being mis-advertised as only a change to the primary rules.

Nope, what I think this does is change the whole election process.

There is no primary now.

There is one big general election, with a run-off later to see which candidate can get more than 50%.

If enough 'mainstream' candidates run (thus running against each other and splitting votes), we might see 2 fringe candidates in the run-off (what they erroneously mis-label as the general election)

I'd be vary wary of this change.

While typing this post I became curious about the supposed reason for this change. This is what I found:

Ballot title and label: "Elections. Increases Right to Participate in Primary Elections." Reforms the primary election process for congressional, statewide, and legislative races. Allows all voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s or voter’s political party preference. Ensures that the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the general election ballot regardless of party preference.

(Note: This ballot title was written by a California Superior Court judge on March 12, 2010 in response to a ballot title lawsuit. The previous ballot title said, "Primary election process reform. Greater participation in elections.")

Official summary: Encourages increased participation in elections for congressional, legislative, and statewide offices by reforming the procedure by which candidates are selected in primary elections. Gives voters increased options in the primary by allowing all voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s or voter’s political party preference. Provides that candidates may choose not to have a political party preference indicated on the primary ballot. Provides that only the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the primary will appear on the general election ballot regardless of party preference. Does not change primary elections for President, party committee offices and nonpartisan offices.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.p...Two_Primaries_Act_(June_2010)#Ballot_language

Frankly, I think that's BS.

I think CA voters will find they have less options, and I suspect in many cases the issues debated at the run-off (general election as they say) will be far more limited.

I couldn't support this, at all.

Fern

 

[werepossum]

^^ Yes, it definitely abolishes the primary process rather than somehow reforming it.

California Voter: We've managed to totally eliminate Republican candidates and yet our state still keeps getting more screwed up! We just don't understand!