In
most states,
both of the
major political
parties require
that in order to
be eligible to
vote in a given
party’s primary,
a person must
register as a
member of that
party well in
advance of the
actual primary
election. This
requirement is a
major inequity
to the
Presidential
nomination
process. I
believe it
inhibits voters’
preferences from
being
represented in
the primary
results.
To
improve the
Presidential
nomination
process, I think
it would make
better sense for
both parties, on
the day of the
actual primary,
to permit voters
to declare their
party
affiliation
at the time they
cast their
ballots.
The current
registration
deadlines
overlook a
candidate’s
ability to
galvanize
support, not
only from
long-time
members of his
party but from
members of the
other major
party as
well as from
registered
independents.
These
individuals,
inspired by a
candidate’s
message, may
wish to join
that candidate’s
party and
support him in
the primaries.
Such decisions
can be made at
any time prior
to a primary
election. If a
candidate
campaigns
strongly and
convincingly, he
will possibly
persuade voter’s
from outside of
his party to
support him.
Such an
accomplishment
creates major
benefits not
only for the
candidate, but
his party as
well.
The current
system in most
states
penalizes
candidates who
attract this
kind of support
by preventing
new supporters
from changing
their party
affiliations in
time for their
votes to count.
This proposal
would not be
impossible to
implement.
Several states
have already
done away with
party
registration
deadlines and
hold open
primaries so
voters can
change their
party
affiliations at
the polls. For
the Republican
primaries and
caucuses, these
states are
Alabama,
Arkansas,
Georgia, Idaho,
Indiana,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
Montana, North
Dakota, Ohio,
South Carolina,
Tennessee,
Texas, Vermont,
Virginia,
Washington, and
Wisconsin. Some
other states,
such as New
Hampshire, North
Carolina, Rhode
Island, and West
Virginia, permit
independents to
vote in the
Republican
primaries. Thus,
a total of 23
states have made
some allowances
for people to
shift their
party
affiliation on
or shortly
before the
primary. The
remaining 27
states now need
to implement
open primaries
and do away with
their party
registration
deadlines.
The state that
needs the most
dramatic reform
in its
Presidential
nomination
process is
Wyoming. The
Republican
nomination
process in
Wyoming does not
even directly
permit
individual
voters to select
the candidate of
their choice.
This year, on
August 22, 2007
– almost
four and a half
months prior to
the January 5,
2008, Wyoming
Conventions –
voters elected
delegates to
these
conventions from
each county.
Then, on January
5, the
convention
delegates voted
to elect the
delegates to the
Republican
National
Convention. It
is absurd to
have the
people’s input
be so indirect
and so early in
the election
season. After
all, changes in
public opinion
can occur during
four and a half
months. In the
Republican race,
both Sam
Brownback and
Tom Tancredo
dropped out
between the
election of the
Wyoming
delegates and
the Wyoming
conventions;
furthermore, Ron
Paul achieved
tremendous gains
in fundraising
and public
support, Mike
Huckabee became
one of the top
three
candidates, John
McCain lost and
then regained
his frontrunner
status, and Rudy
Giuliani
declined to
fifth or sixth
place in the
polls and the
Iowa caucuses.
In addition,
hundreds of
debates,
interviews,
public
statements,
commentaries,
and discussions
involving the
candidates took
place. Surely,
the voters need
to be permitted
to take this new
information into
consideration
before making
their choice.
In the Wyoming
Conventions,
Mitt Romney
received the
majority of
delegates and
approximately
67% of the vote.
In Iowa, Romney
received 25% of
the vote; in New
Hampshire, he
got 32%. In
Michigan, Romney
got his highest
total so far
from a direct
vote – 39%. Even
if Romney’s
support in
Wyoming exceeds
the highest of
these numbers,
it is unlikely
that it exceeds
them by a factor
greater than
1.7. Thus, it is
likely that the
nomination
process in
Wyoming has
distorted what
the voters
really want; had
they been
permitted to
vote in open
primaries and to
register with
the Republican
Party on the day
of the
primaries, the
percentages for
each candidate
would have been
different.
Arbitrary
barriers
representing
voters’ true
preferences need
to be done away
with. This
would ensure a
fair nomination
process and
prevent voters
from having to
make a choice
between the
lesser of two
evils on the day
of the general
election.
Improving
the Presidential Nomination Process: