All Voters Vote Inc., a Tallahassee-based group, filed a petition that would make Florida a "top-two" primary state. In this process, which is the model in Nebraska, Louisiana, Washington, and California, all candidates, regardless of party, run against one another in an open primary. The two candidates with the most votes in the first round then run against each other in the general election. If successful, it would be on the 2016 ballot.
Progressive Campaigns is the paid petitioning company that is doing the drive.
Florida initiatives need 60% of the vote in order to take effect.
The Florida "top-two" system is currently used only for congressional and statewide elections.
Proponents of the model say it results in less partisan elections and forces candidates' to move toward the "center. But not everybody thinks the top-two system ends grinding partisanship.
Lets look at the wording on the petition:
(1) All qualified candidates shall be listed on one primary ballot for each office at issue. Candidates nominated by a political party shall appear on the primary ballot with their party affiliation designated in accordance with law; all other candidates may have their political party preference designated upon the ballot in a manner consistent with law and distinguishable from a party’s nomination. Only the top two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary for each office shall, regardless of their party affiliation, advance to the general election. The top two candidates’ party affiliation or party preference designations on the primary ballot shall also apply to the general election ballot.
(2) Primaries conducted pursuant to this subsection shall not determine a political party’s nominee for office. Nothing in this subsection shall: (i) restrict the right of private association of political parties or of individuals to join or organize into political parties; or (ii) restrict the rights of political parties to nominate, endorse, support or oppose candidates for office, or to otherwise participate in elections.
The wordinging (1), "Candidates nominated by a political party" does not indicate how these nomination take place, convention, caucus, or by party leaders.
To save the taxpayers of Florida the coat of running elections, why not get rid of primaries, and just run an open General Election with Rank-Choice voting?
CLICK HERE to view the petition form.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us 
No comments:
Post a Comment