[EM] How would you fix California's top two primary?

[Kristofer Munsterhjelm]

On 01/11/2017 01:37 AM, robert bristow-johnson wrote:
>  
> 
> i would ditch it.  i actually think that political parties serve a
> purpose.  but i think that it should be easier for an independent
> candidate or a third-party candidate to run on a LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
> with whoever the two major parties prop up to run for office.
> 
> the Primary election is not the "primary" place to fix these (lack of)
> multiple-choice issues.  it's the General.
> 
> we can use RCV (that's Condorcet compliant) in the primaries, too,
> within each party.  but i **really** don't like the idea that the top
> two of one party end up eclipsing the offerings of any of the other
> parties.  in fact i hate that idea.  i think California screwed up with
> this top two thing.

If you have the complexity budget to go right to Condorcet, yes. The
impression I got from Erik's post was that he was looking for small
changes as it'd be hard to change the system entirely.

But I agree. If you can get Condorcet, get Condorcet.