[EM] Oregon top-two primary proposal

[Richard Fobes]

 > On 09/16/2014 05:40 AM, Dick Burkhart wrote:
 >> Oregon is considering a "top 2" primary, a very regressive move in my
 >> opinion.

I live in Oregon and I too regard the proposed (on the November ballot) 
"top 2 primary" to be a step backward.

(It uses single-mark ballots, and basically pools the candidates and 
ballots of all political parties.)

If this gets adopted, either the Republican party or the Democratic 
party can win BOTH of the top two runoff positions just by quietly 
funding extra candidates in the opposition party, and limiting their own 
party to two candidates.

A simple improvement would be to use approval ballots.  It would be 
simpler than creating a top 3 election.

Yes, Condorcet is fairer, but approval ballots would work fine in 
PRIMARY elections -- of either the traditional or top-two kind, and it's 
compatible with existing ballot-counting equipment.

Ironically, if this top-two primary law gets adopted, vote splitting 
will become more obvious, and that increased attention might sooner 
motivate real reforms.

BTW, everyone in Oregon votes by mail.  There are no polling places to 
go to.  (The cost of mailing a ballot is avoided by using the ballot 
boxes in nearby libraries.)

Richard Fobes


> On 09/16/2014 05:40 AM, Dick Burkhart wrote:
>> Oregon is considering a "top 2" primary, a very regressive move in my
>> opinion.
>>
>> So I thought what would be simplest "top 3" method that would give
>> voters more choices, especially in regard to independent or minority
>> candidates or parties. Less partisanship would be an added bonus.