How many times have you heard someone say, ``I vote for the person, not the party?'' Yet, California's existing closed primary election system denies voters that choice.
California faces serious challenges: Our education system, economy, criminal justice system, tax policies, and natural resources are all in trouble.
Instead of facing up to these challenges, politicians from both major parties spend more time fighting with each other and promoting narrow political agendas than they spend doing their jobs.
GIVE VOTERS A CHOICE.
California's closed primary election system limits voters' choices to candidates within their own party, and excludes 1.5 million independent voters from voting in primary elections at all. It favors the election of party hard-liners, contributes to legislative gridlock, and stacks the deck against more moderate problem-solvers.
The Open Primary will permit every voter to select the best candidate for each office, regardless of party affiliation.
INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION.
Voters are increasingly dissatisfied with the choices they face on election day--and participation is declining as a result.
The Open Primary will increase participation by giving voters a real choice and by forcing candidates to focus on issues, not just partisanship. It will also give independent voters--currently excluded in primaries--a chance to participate.
RESTORE HEALTHY COMPETITION.
Party registration in most California legislative districts heavily favors one party or the other. In these so-called ``safe'' districts, the winner of the majority party's primary election is virtually guaranteed victory in the general election, regardless of how extreme the candidate's views.
In these districts, voters in the minority party have no real voice in the selection of their representative.
The Open Primary will encourage healthy competition in every district and force politicians to listen to all voters in their districts, not just those registered in their own party.
OTHER STATES GIVE VOTERS A CHOICE.
California has one of the most ``closed'' primary systems in the nation. Most other states recognize the increasing independence of voters by giving them a choice on election day.
Washington State and Alaska have open primaries very similar to the one proposed in California by this initiative. Special legislative elections in California are already conducted using a modified version of the Open Primary. The Open Primary system is proven, and it works.
WHO OPPOSES THE OPEN PRIMARY?
Hard-liners in both major political parties oppose the Open Primary because it will weaken their power and the power of special interest groups which support them.
HOW WOULD IT WORK?
Every primary election voter would receive a ballot containing the names of all candidates and their party affiliations. Voters would choose the candidate of their choice for each office, regardless of the candidate's party affiliation. The top vote-getters from each political party would then face each other in the November general election, as they do under the current system.
Non-partisan local offices and party committee offices would be unaffected by the Open Primary.
BECKY MORGAN
Former State Senator
EUGENE C. LEE
Director, Institute of Governmental Studies,
University of California, 1967-1988
DAN STANFORD
Chairman, California Fair Political
Practices Commission, 1983-1986