If you thought Munger harmed the Democrats and Republican parties by allowing folks from “the other Party” to help decide the only two people allowed on the November ballot (Dems vs.Dems. Reps vs Reps—radicals or inexperienced people getting nominations) The Munger theory is now at work on the presidential level in California.
Two Democrats, ur, one is still a registered GOP’er to make it look good, have come up with a ballot measure to force the political parties to open their primaries to every registered voters, not just those of the Party making the nomination. Actually, as I remember it, if this was to pass, the California delegation to the National Convention would not be allowed to be seated. The national party has a rule, delegates have to be chosen by Republicans ONLY. So, if you want to be a GOP delegate, that will never happen. This is Munger on steroids.
“Tony Krvaric, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, said he feared the measure would wrest away power from ordinary citizens and help elevate special interests that already have disproportionate influence over the political system.
“This whole thing is a sham for people who don’t want the average person to have a voice, which is what you get through political parties,” Krvaric said.”
If you thought Munger harmed the Democrats and Republican parties by allowing folks from “the other Party” to help decide the only two people allowed on the November ballot (Dems vs.Dems. Reps vs Reps—radicals or inexperienced people getting nominations) The Munger theory is now at work on the presidential level in California.
Two Democrats, ur, one is still a registered GOP’er to make it look good, have come up with a ballot measure to force the political parties to open their primaries to every registered voters, not just those of the Party making the nomination. Actually, as I remember it, if this was to pass, the California delegation to the National Convention would not be allowed to be seated. The national party has a rule, delegates have to be chosen by Republicans ONLY. So, if you want to be a GOP delegate, that will never happen. This is Munger on steroids.
“Tony Krvaric, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, said he feared the measure would wrest away power from ordinary citizens and help elevate special interests that already have disproportionate influence over the political system.
“This whole thing is a sham for people who don’t want the average person to have a voice, which is what you get through political parties,” Krvaric said.”
OPEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY SOUGHT
Former lawmakers plan initiative to make parties pay costs if election closed
By Christopher Cadelago, San Diego U-T, 7/1/13
Sacramento — Former California lawmakers Steve Peace and Jeff Marston of San Diego have filed paperwork to launch a statewide ballot initiative that would allow primary voters to cast a ballot for their preferred presidential candidate, regardless of party.
Under the proposal, political parties would still have the option of holding a presidential primary only open to party members. However, they would have to fund the counting of the votes — a cost currently covered by government.
Currently, parties have the option of holding open or closed primaries. In the latest presidential primary, Democrats opened their ballot to all voters, while Republicans required GOP affiliation to participate.
The funding requirement would likely force both parties to hold open primaries, although that decision would technically remain optional.
Peace, a Democrat, and Marston, a Republican, say the goal is to end public financing of what amounts to internal members-only elections.
As chairmen of the Independent Voter Project, they were among the chief sponsors of the state’s new primary system under Proposition 14 in 2010.
For state elections, Proposition 14 allows voters to choose candidates regardless of their party preference with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election. Peace said the latest effort essentially extends that process to presidential primaries.
The purpose is to expand the options for independent voters who face a series of barriers designed by parties to depress participation, he said.
California taxpayers also would be off the hook for millions of dollars in costs to administer party central committee contests — the races for little-known partisan groups elected within districts that run local parties and make candidate endorsements. Proponents suggested the parties could use online voting systems.
Tony Krvaric, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, said he feared the measure would wrest away power from ordinary citizens and help elevate special interests that already have disproportionate influence over the political system.
“This whole thing is a sham for people who don’t want the average person to have a voice, which is what you get through political parties,” Krvaric said.
Nixing funding for central committee elections could cause other problems, he said.
“Now, anyone can make it onto a committee,” he said. “Do they want the committee setting the rules? … Do they want the chairman picking members?”
Francine Busby, chairwoman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, said the group has been working on solutions for some time after becoming aware of efforts to do away with public funding for internal party contests, including races for central committee.
“At the presidential level, Democrats have opened our primary to voters without party preference since the 2004 election,” said Tenoch Flores, a spokesman for the California Democratic Party. “As Republican voter registration continues to shrink and more Californians identify with Democrats, or instead register as no-party preference, we believe our candidates are well-suited to attract both Democratic and NPP votes in future elections.”
San DiegoCounty elections officials have pegged the cost to certify central committee candidates and operate the elections at $400,000. Former Registrar Deborah Seiler was among a handful of county officials across the state to promote a similar concept, albeit without the component to open up presidential primaries.
California county elections officials have long been required to conduct elections for the party posts. The Libertarian Party has opted out of county-run balloting in the state.
Peace and Marston have submitted a request for a title and summary, and would need to collect about 807,600 signatures to qualify for the ballot.
