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North Dakota Bill for Blanket Primary is Defeated in Committee

Posted on February 5, 2011 by admin

On February 4, the North Dakota House Political Subdivisions Committee defeated HB 1299. The bill would have converted North Dakota from an open primary to a blanket primary. A blanket primary puts all candidates on a single ballot, and all primary voters use that ballot. Then, the top vote-getter from the ranks of each party advances to the general election. The bill had been sponsored by two Democratic legislators, Corey Mock and Lee Kaldor.

Comments

North Dakota Bill for Blanket Primary is Defeated in Committee — No Comments

Steve Rankin on February 5, 2011 at 2:21 pm said:

Such a state-mandated blanket primary is unconstitutional (California Democratic Party v. Jones).

Two or more parties may voluntarily join in a blanket primary, as Alaska’s Democrats and minor parties have.
Steve Rankin on February 5, 2011 at 2:30 pm said:

I’m assuming that at least one party in the state would object to being included in the blanket primary.
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Mike on February 5, 2011 at 5:13 pm said:

I do not get the statement “the top vote-getter from the ranks of each party advances to the general election”. Since “all candidates are on a single ballot”, does that mean only one candidate from each party, qualified or not, would go to the general? Please explain.
Steve Rankin on February 5, 2011 at 5:30 pm said:

#4: Unlike the “top two,” a blanket primary is a party nominating process, and each party is authorized to have one candidate per office on the general election ballot.

Independent candidates are included in the first round of the “top two,” whereas, in a blanket primary system, independents only run in the general election.
Demo Rep on February 5, 2011 at 6:27 pm said:

The MORON party hacks in SCOTUS screwed up THE pre-school election law point in the CA blanket party case —

Nominations for PUBLIC offices by PUBLIC Electors is PUBLIC business — TOTALLY subject to the LAWS.

1. ALL Electors nominate – top 2 States. The 2008 WA top 2 case.

2. SOME factions of Electors nominate – party hacks in group with or without independents and/or other party hack group(s) — according to LAW.

3. Internal clubby party hack stuff is totally separate – see the 1989 Eu case (one of the few SCOTUS opinions having a bit of sanity).

At least 2 of 3 somewhat sane. Not bad for the SCOTUS party hacks.