[EM] Top 6, Top 2, Head to Head Primary

[Don Hoffard]

Top 6, Top 2, Head to Head Primary

Nominations:

1.       In order for a candidate to get into the primary they must get
registered voters to sign nominating cards for them. 

2.       Each candidate must get at least one quarter of 1% of the
registered voters in their district/state to sign a nominating card for
them.

3.       Only the top 6 candidates with the most signed nominating cards
will be included on the primary ballot (see exception below).

4.       A registered voter may sign a card for more than one candidate, but
only one for each candidate.

5.       Only registered voters from the same district/state as the
candidate may sign a nominating card for that candidate.

6.       No more than two candidates from each political party will be
included on the primary ballot.

7.       Only registered voters, from the same political party as the
candidate, may sign a nominating card for that candidate. However, a
political party may allow other registered voters to sign their candidates
nominating card.

8.       Any registered voter may sign a nominating card for any
non-affiliated candidate, but only one for each candidate.

9.       In non-partisan position elections 6-7 above does not apply.

Primary election:

1.       The primary will allow voters to rank each of the candidates from 1
to 5.  Number 1 being their top pick and 5 their 2nd lowest (their lowest
being their one non-ranked candidate).

2.       A registered voter is allowed to rank all candidates regardless of
political party.

3.       The two candidates that receive higher ranking than any of the
other candidate will move on to the general election. Each candidate is
compared head to head with each of the other candidates. [If A>B, A>C, A>D,
A>E, and A>F, (> meaning more preference votes) then candidate A moves on to
the general election and if B>C, B>D, B>E, and B>F then candidate B moves on
to the general election.]

4.       If no candidate meet the head to head criteria in 3 above then the
candidate with the lowest preference vote is eliminated first, then the next
lowest eliminated next, until only 2 candidate remain and they will move on
to the general election. [i.e. the Instant Runoff System]

5.       If one candidate meets the head to head criteria then that
candidate moves on to the general election and if a second does not meet the
head to head criteria then only the remaining 5 candidates would be subject
to the elimination method described in 4 above.

General Election:

1.       No write-in votes will be allowed in the general election.
(exceptions: one candidate dies or with-draws)

2.       It is possible that the two candidates would be from the same
political party.

3.       The winner is elected to the office.

Why the nomination process? This allows registered voters to decide who gets
on the primary ballot and not the candidates or the party officials.

Why top 6? There is no why a voter can know and be able to rank 10-20
candidates.

Why the "only 2 per party" rule? This will allow minor party and
non-affiliated candidates to get on the primary ballot. 

Why only those registered in a party to nominate party candidates?  We are
not trying to eliminate parties and it also eliminates non party members
from nominating poor party candidates they can defeat in the general
election.  Only party members decide who they want to represent their party.

Why the head to head ranking? This corrects a major flaw in the existing
"Top 2 primary" in that you may get two extreme candidates running in the
general election. The head to head method allows more moderates, minor
party, and non-affiliated candidates to move on to the general election (see
example below).  In all of the statewide and congressional offices in the
state of Washington's 2012 top 2 primary had one Democrat and one Republican
move on to the general election.  Why have a primary system that perpetuates
the two party system?

Example Primary: Assume the district has 45 Democratic, 20 Non-affiliated,
and 35 Republican voters and we have one candidate representing each group.
Assume also that the Non-affiliated candidate is a moderate, (middle of the
road).

The primary votes are as follows:

The 45 Democrats vote D>NA>R.

10 of the Non-affiliated voters vote NA>D>R

10 of the Non-affiliated voters vote NA>R>D

The 35 Republicans vote R>NA>D

The Results are NA>D 55 to 45 and NA>R 55 to 45 (The non-affiliated
candidate move to the general election.) And since D>R 55 to 45 (Then the
Democratic candidate also move to the general)

The Non-affiliated and the Democratic candidates are in the general
election, but in a simple Top 2 primary (with first place votes only) the
Democratic and the Republican candidates would be in the general election.

 

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