[Election-Methods] Closed or open primary elections? (was: Why monotonicity?)

[Dave Ketchum]

On Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:42:30 -0800 Steve Eppley wrote privately.  If you
reply,
 > please address it to the maillist.]
 >
 > You wrote:
 >
 >> As to "closed" primary elections:
 >>      They make sense to me for Plurality general elections.
 >
 >
 > Why do you think so?

In a closed primary election party members properly get to choose who
shall be the party's candidate in the general election:
       For a major party it matters little, for it is hard to round up
enough outsiders to outvote party members.
       For a minor party there are lots of outsiders, who could easily
outvote party members.
       Assuming there are enough interested outsiders, they should be able
to nominate the candidate they wish to elect, without interfering with a
party's nomination task.

I did specify Plurality.  With some other methods, such as Condorcet, more
candidates can be allowed in the general election without destructive
interference.
 >
 > Regards,
 > Steve Eppley
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  Dave Ketchum   108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY  13827-1708   607-687-5026
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