Saturday, January 14, 2017

Tell VA Legislators to Make Elections More Democratic Not Less


Virginia’s Open Primary system is in peril.

State Senators Mark Obenshain and John Cosgrove have introduced two bills that would force Voters to Register with a Party in order to Vote, SB 902 and SB 650.

They also give the Parties the option to Close their Primaries.

Last year every member of the Virginia Legislature was Re-Elected.

But even that’s not enough for partisans in Richmond who are working to consolidate their power even further.

This simply cannot stand. Virginia’s Primary system needs to be more more Democratic, Not Less.

House Delegate Sam Rasoul has a plan to put Virginia politics back in the hands of the voters: the Public Nonpartisan Primary.

HJ 541 is simple. It would create a Public Primary that would let all Voters vote for who they want in every Election and force politicians to reach out to ALL the Voters in order to be Elected. It’s a solution that has transformed the Political culture in States that have adopted it, like California and Nebraska.

It’s time to do away with Partisan Politics and empower Virginia’s voters.

Our politicians should work for the People, not the Parties.

CLICK HERE to send a letter to the Privileges and Elections Committee urging them to Reject SB 902 and SB 650, and Pass HJ 541.

UPDATE
Monday morning, the first Subcommittee of the Virginia Legislature will vote on Delegate Sam Rasoul’s bill for Public, Nonpartisan top-Two Primaries.

Nebraska has the least polarized state Legislature in the Country. California has the most competitive Elections in the Country. Their secret? They both have top-Two.

Virginia, meanwhile, had the LEAST competitive Elections of any State in 2015, when 100% of Incumbents were reelected.

I favor an Instant-Runoff Primary or a Top-20%. Under a Top-20%, any candidate with 20% or more go to the run-off election.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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