[EM] Re: the simplest election reform

[Araucaria Araucana]

On 16 Jun 2005 at 14:30 UTC-0700, Anthony Duff wrote:
> Perhaps there was something specific about the primary that you want
> eliminated, but every party has to be able to choose a candidate.

Sure, let parties choose their candidate, but on their own dime.  I
don't buy the argument that it is in the public interest to publicly
fund a primary to choose the candidates.  It maintains the status quo
of two major parties (in the US, at least).

If ranked ballots or approval are enacted, why not allow all the
primary candidates on the general election ballot anyway?  With a
strong ranked scheme or approval it shouldn't hurt the official party
representatives, and could possibly even help them.  The primary
losers don't have to actively campaign, but disaffected party voters
could register some kind of statement without actually losing their
votes.

For example, some 500 voters in last November's Washington State
governor's race voted for Ron Sims, the Democratic primary loser,
probably as a statement against Christine Gregoire's 1960's membership
in a black-excluding sorority.

Presidential campaigns are a different beast, anyway.  Any voting
change is going to have to start locally, with city, county and
statewide offices.

Q
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