Presidential primaries need to be revamped
Posted by John T. Reed on
Dems are about to do a huge primary which means Dems denouncing other Dems to the high heavens for many months. Good.
But I think the presidential primaries should be totally revamped as follows:
1. The federal government runs a national primary election in January of a leap year. It is entirely write-in. No one’s name is on the ballot. No party is guaranteed to be on the ballot. There is already a court decision that says it is okay for candidates to hand out stickers with their name that could be attached to the ballot. That eliminates much of the illegible handwriting issue.
2. In March, there is a sweet-sixteen second round where only the top 16 vote getters from the January write-in primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
3. In June, there is an elite-eight third round where only the top eight vote getters from the March primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
4. In September, there is an final-four fourth round where only the top four vote getters from the June primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
5. On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, there is the final round where only the top two vote getters from the September primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
This would end the ridiculous influence of stupid venues like Iowa and New Hampshire. This would give all states equal influence over nominees. It would require a lot of money and support and name recognition.
Is that bad in that it might keep out the wild cards like Jimmy Carter or Bernie? We’re talking about the President of the United States here, not American Idol. He or she OUGHT to have a lot of support.
This would not end the role of parties, but they would have to win their way onto the ballots, not be guaranteed it by prior election success. It would also end the spoiler role of third-party candidates like Bullmoose, Perot, Nader.
The current primary system stinks to high heaven and gives absurd influence to quirky, unrepresentative states. It also gives too much of a role to party hacks like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Mayor Daley.
But I think the presidential primaries should be totally revamped as follows:
1. The federal government runs a national primary election in January of a leap year. It is entirely write-in. No one’s name is on the ballot. No party is guaranteed to be on the ballot. There is already a court decision that says it is okay for candidates to hand out stickers with their name that could be attached to the ballot. That eliminates much of the illegible handwriting issue.
2. In March, there is a sweet-sixteen second round where only the top 16 vote getters from the January write-in primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
3. In June, there is an elite-eight third round where only the top eight vote getters from the March primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
4. In September, there is an final-four fourth round where only the top four vote getters from the June primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
5. On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, there is the final round where only the top two vote getters from the September primary are on the ballot. No write-ins allowed.
This would end the ridiculous influence of stupid venues like Iowa and New Hampshire. This would give all states equal influence over nominees. It would require a lot of money and support and name recognition.
Is that bad in that it might keep out the wild cards like Jimmy Carter or Bernie? We’re talking about the President of the United States here, not American Idol. He or she OUGHT to have a lot of support.
This would not end the role of parties, but they would have to win their way onto the ballots, not be guaranteed it by prior election success. It would also end the spoiler role of third-party candidates like Bullmoose, Perot, Nader.
The current primary system stinks to high heaven and gives absurd influence to quirky, unrepresentative states. It also gives too much of a role to party hacks like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Mayor Daley.
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