Though there is considerable interest in who the Next Governor of Florida will be, the fact is that more than Three Million People, a Quarter of All Registered Voters in the Sunshine State, were Banned from participating in the Aug. 28th Primary Election.
That’s because they’re a part of the fastest growing part of the Electorate, No-Party-Affiliated (NPAs) Voters, who are Independent of the Two Major Political Parties in Florida. Now, a Group wants to Change that.
Florida Fair and Open Primaries (FFAOP), launched Two Petitions for State Constitutional Amendments. One Petition seeks to introduce a Top-Two Open Primary; the second Prohibits Public Resources from being used for Closed Primary Elections.
“At issue is whether Florida citizens believe the fundamental right to vote should be extended to all registered voters,” Steve Hough, Director of FFAOP, said in a Statement. “As the vast majority of races are decided in a primary election, by a tiny fraction of the electorate, we believe they will agree.”
Florida is one of just Nine States in the Country with Closed Primaries, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. Other States have some version of either a Semi-Open or Semi-Closed Primary, while 15 States have a pure Open Primary System, which means that Registered Voters can cast a Vote across Party Lines, or, if they are NPA, any Party Candidates.
In general, Members of the Republican and Democratic Parties in Florida have opposed such Proposals, claiming it offers the Opportunity for “mischief.”
Democrats for example, cite Rush Limbaugh’s “Operation Chaos” proposal back in 2008, where he urged Republican Voters in Open Primary States to Vote in the Democratic Party Presidential Primary that year between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
“We believe voters should have been afforded the opportunity to determine the fate of an open primaries amendment,” FFAOP Director Steve Hough said.
The group must get 766,200 Verified Signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office by February 2020 in order to Qualify for the November 2020 Ballot.
As of July 2018, there were 3,472,688 Registered Voters in Florida who are not Affiliated with the Republican or Democratic Parties.
States Primary Process
Closed Primary States In general, a Voter seeking to Vote in a Closed Primary must first be a Registered Party Member. Typically, the Voter Affiliates with a Party on their Voter Registration Application. This system deters “Cross-Over” Voting by Members of other Parties. Independent or Unaffiliated Voters, by definition, are Excluded from participating in the Party Nomination Contests. This system generally contributes to a Strong Party Organization.
Delaware
Florida
Kentucky
Maryland
Nevada
New Mexico
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Partially Closed States - In this system, State Law permits Political Parties to choose whether to allow Unaffiliated Voters or Voters not Registered with the Party to participate in their Nominating Contests before each Election Cycle. In this type of system, Parties may let in Unaffiliated Voters, while still excluding Members of opposing Parties. This system gives the Parties more Flexibility from year-to-year about which Voters to include. At the same time, it can create uncertainty about whether or not certain Voters can Participate in Party Primaries in a given year.
Alaska
Connecticut
Idaho
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Utah
Partially Open States - This system Permits Voters to Cross Party Lines, but they must either Publicly Declare their Ballot choice or their Ballot Selection may be regarded as a Form of Registration with the corresponding Party. Iowa asks Voters to choose a Party on the state Voter Registration Form, yet it allows a Primary Voter to Publicly Change Party Affiliation for purposes of Voting on Primary Election Day. Some State Parties keep track of who Votes in their Primaries as a means to identify their Backers.
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Ohio
Tennessee
Wyoming
Semi-Closed States - A number of States allow only Unaffiliated Voters to participate in any Party Primary they choose, but do not allow Voters who are Registered with One Party to Vote in another Party’s Primary. This system differs from a true Open Primary because a Democrat cannot cross over and Vote in a Republican Party Primary, or vice versa. New Hampshire requires that Unaffiliated Voters Declare Affiliation with a Party at the Polls in order to Vote in that Party’s Primary. In Colorado, Unaffiliated Voters must Return just one Party’s Mail Ballot, or State which Party Ballot they want at the Polls. The choice is Public information, although it does not Change the Voter's Unaffiliated Status.
Open to Unaffiliated Voters Primary States
Arizona
Colorado
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Rhode Island
West Virginia
Open Primaries States - In general, but not always, States that do not ask Voters to choose Parties on the Voter Registration Form are “Open Primary” States. In an Open Primary, Voters may choose Privately in which Primary to Vote. In other words, Voters may choose which Party’s Ballot to Vote, but this decision is Private and does Not Register the Voter with that Party. This Permits a Voter to Cast a Vote across Party Lines for the Primary Election. Critics argue that the Open Primary Dilutes the Parties’ Ability to Nominate. Supporters say this system gives Voters Maximal Flexibility, allowing them to Cross Party Lines, and maintains their Privacy. But it does not allow the Voter to Pick any Candidate that want, only the Candidates picked by the Party.
Alabama
Arkansas
Georgia
Hawaii
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
North Dakota
South Carolina
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin
Top-Two Primaries States - California, Louisiana, Nebraska (for State Elections), and Washington currently use a “Top-Two” Primary format. The “top two” format uses a Common Ballot, listing All Candidates on the same Ballot. In California and Louisiana, each Candidate Lists their Party Affiliation, whereas in Washington, each Candidate is Authorized to List a Party “Preference.” The Top-Two Vote getters in each Race, regardless of Party, Advance to the General Election. Advocates of the "Top-Two" format argue that it increases the likelihood of Moderate Candidates advancing to the General Election Ballot. Opponents maintain that it Reduces Voter Choice by making it possible that Two Candidates of the Same Party face off in the General Election. They also contend that it is tilted against Minor Parties who will face slim odds of earning one of only Two Spots on the General Election Ballot This is the only Primary method that allows the Voter to Pick their Candidates regardless of Party or Independednt. But I would make it a Top-Three, giving Minor Parties and Independents a better chance of getting on the General Election Ballot. I would also add Ranked-Choice Voting as the Selection Method.
California
Louisiana
Nebraska (Only for Nonpartisan Legislative Races)
Washington
Presidential Primary Rules - States may have radically different systems for how they conduct their State and Presidential Primaries: some States hold their State and Presidential Primaries on the same day, some hold them weeks or even months apart, and some hold the Two Primaries on the same day but have different Rules for each Primary.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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