Measure 872
Oct. 31st, 2004 11:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ursulaI've talked to a couple of people who were confused by Washington Measure 872, so I'm posting a quick analysis here.
Measure 872 will decrease your choice, not increase it. Vote NO.
Measure 872 will change the Washington primary system so that the top two vote-getters in a primary election advance to the general election, regardless of party. This will block minor parties from the ballot. In certain cases, it will make the general election into a one-party election. Here's an example:
Suppose three Democrats and two Republicans participate in the primary election. The races are hotly contested, and most voters pick either a Democrat or a Republican. If the same number of Democrats and Republicans vote, and both Democrats and Republicans split their votes equally among the candidates of their party, only the two Republicans will advance to the general election.
Washington voters deserve a real choice in the general election. That means we need to vote against Measure 872.
Measure 872 will decrease your choice, not increase it. Vote NO.
Measure 872 will change the Washington primary system so that the top two vote-getters in a primary election advance to the general election, regardless of party. This will block minor parties from the ballot. In certain cases, it will make the general election into a one-party election. Here's an example:
Suppose three Democrats and two Republicans participate in the primary election. The races are hotly contested, and most voters pick either a Democrat or a Republican. If the same number of Democrats and Republicans vote, and both Democrats and Republicans split their votes equally among the candidates of their party, only the two Republicans will advance to the general election.
Washington voters deserve a real choice in the general election. That means we need to vote against Measure 872.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-01 05:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-01 06:58 pm (UTC)My guess is that since both major parties are capable of doing the arithmetic I did above, if the measure went into effect, the parties would pressure their members not to contest primaries, so we'd end up with no choice within a party at all.
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Date: 2004-11-06 10:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-11-07 08:50 pm (UTC)