Proposition 198
Elections: Open Primary
- Provides that all persons entitled to vote, including those not affiliated with any political party, shall have the right to vote at any election for any candidate regardless of the candidate's political affiliation.
- Provides for a single primary ballot on which, under the appropriate title for each office, the names and party affiliations of all candidates are placed randomly and not grouped by political party.
- Retains separate partisan ballot only for the selection of elective political party committee members by voters of each party.
- Requires Legislature to conform conflicting statutes.
The information below was provided by the California Journal.
Background: California's current primary system dates back
to the early part of the 20th century when progressive reformers devised and
promoted it to give ordinary citizens and rank-and-file members of political
parties a say in the candidates put up for election by their parties. Until
that time, those slates of candidates were determined by party bosses and
activists at state conventions. At first, the primary featured what was known
as a "cross-filing" feature, which allowed candidates to file for a particular
office in their own party's primary and in another party's primary as well.
Because of the way cross-filing worked, however, a candidate's true party
affiliation was not listed on the ballot; thus, voters often did not realize
they were nominating a candidate from another party. This was especially
helpful for incumbents who often were the most recognizable name on a ballot.
Eventually, 70 percent to 80 percent of legislative primaries resulted in one
candidate winning both party nominations, with Republicans earning the lion's
share of nominations. But since 1959, when cross-filing was abolished via an
initiative, California has had a closed primary, where only candidates
affiliated with a party may be listed on that party's ballot and only voters
registered to that party may vote. That has led, say some activists, to a
system that produces extremists on both ends of the political spectrum. These
activists want to open up the primary process to allow any voter -- even
independents not affiliated with any political party -- the opportunity to cast
a ballot in primary elections. Currently, 11 states operate under some form of
"open primary." Eight of those states allow voters to choose a political party
on Election Day; in California, that choice must be made 29 days before the
primary. Three other states have what is known as a "blanket primary" where
voters may vote for the candidate of their choice regardless of the candidate's
party. In the past, the open primary has been proposed both as an initiative
and in the Legislature, but these proposals either died in legislative
committee or failed to gain the required number of signatures to be placed on
the ballot.
Proposal: Proposition 198 allows all persons who are
entitled to vote in primary elections, including those not already affiliated
with a specific political party, to vote for any candidate regardless of that
candidate's party affiliation. Thus, voters in primary elections would be
allowed to vote for candidates across party lines. The measure also provides
that county election officials prepare only one ballot for all voters, and
candidates for partisan office would be listed randomly on the ballot and not
grouped by party. The candidate from each party who receives the most votes for
state elective office would become the nominee of that party at the next
general election. The only candidates not affected by these procedures are
those running for political party offices, such as county central committees.
Those elections would continue to be restricted to voters registered to a
particular party. The Legislative Analyst's Office has indicated that
Proposition 198 would have no fiscal impact on the state and might save some
money for counties that would be able to print and prepare fewer ballots.
Arguments for: Proposition 198 is supported by former
state Senator Rebecca Morgan (R-Saratoga), former Fair Political Practices
Commission Chairman Dan Stanford, Senator Lucy Killea (I-San Diego) and former
GOP state Controller Houston Flournoy. They argue that the current closed
primary system produces candidates at the ideological extreme who spend more
time fighting with each other than addressing the state's most pressing
problems. They say an open primary will increase voter participation and force
candidates to focus on issues rather than on partisanship. Proposition 198 will
allow independent voters, now excluded from primaries, a chance to participate,
and also give minority party voters in non-competitive districts a real say in
selecting their representatives. They also argue that victorious candidates
will have broader bases of support. Finally, they say that political parties in
states with open primaries have become stronger and healthier.
Arguments against: Officials of both major political
parties oppose Proposition 198, as does former GOP U.S. Senate candidate Bruce
Herschensohn and former Democratic Attorney General John Van de Kamp. They
argue that primaries have one purpose: for registered voters in each political
party to select nominees for the general election. Clubs and private
organizations do not allow non-members to vote in their internal elections, and
neither should political parties. The open-primary measure, they warn, is an
invitation for political mischief and would allow politicians, special
interests and political consultants to manipulate the system through the use of
sophisticated targeting methods. There is a difference between the parties,
opponents note, but Proposition 198 muddies the waters. And rather than
increasing voter choice, the measure actually limits it by diminishing the
importance of joining a political party free from outside interference.
For additional information please see:
- Yes on 198
Californians For An Open Primary
- No on 198
None submitted
