In November 2014, Montana voters will vote on whether to establish a top-two system. The Independent, a free weekly newspaper in Missoula, has this story about the upcoming vote, with an emphasis on the motive of the Republican majority in the legislature in putting the measure on the ballot.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
Top 2 is a BOGUS *reform*.
1/2 votes x 1/2 pack/crack gerrymander districts = 1/4 control.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
Had the Republicans in Montana obtained a clean sweep of the Legislature and the governorship this issue would have been signed into law. The Republicans had no intentions of allowing people to vote on this issue, but didn’t have over ride veto votes. Just another way to eliminate the competition from the general election, where votes really matter and people take notice. In California, in the 2012 Top Two Primary, the turnout was round 30 percent the lowest since, I think since the 1920’s. Primary turnout is pretty low in most states VS the General where people finally look at issues and candidates. In the Montana 2012 primary election turnout was 37% vs 72% in the general election. So the general election matters and voters won’t be able to vote for the candidate of their choice, if that choice doesn’t make it out of the Top Two primary.
It would be dishonest to attribute turnout in the California primary to Top 2.
Turnout in the June 2012 Top 2 primary was up 17% from the June 2008 primary which used conventional partisan primaries.
NO primaries needed with —
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
The June 2008 California primary was only for U.S. House and state legislature. The presidential primary in California in 2008 was a separate primary held in February. You know this is true but you omit it.
Do you think many voters stayed home/didn’t return their mail ballot because of Top 2?
Or do you think they didn’t vote because the Democratic nomination for President was uncontested, or that the Republican nomination had been decided.