Virginia Del. Sam Rasoul (D-11th District, Roanoke), has introduced the Depolarizing Politics Act, HB 360, which would bring Open Primary Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) system to the Commonwealth.
“Our current system only incentivizes candidates to listen to the base of both major parties,” Rasoul said. “With this new election process, candidates will benefit from listening to all voices. This innovation will make it easier for the people—voters and elected officials alike—to come together across ideological lines.”
Voter-Nominated Open Primaries allow even Independent Voters, the Largest and Fastest Growing Sector of the Electorate, to voice their Opinions without having to Designate their Party leaning.
In a Open Top-Four RCV Primary, Voters pick from All the Candidates from any Party. The Four Candidates who Receive the Highest Percentage of Votes overall Advance to the General Election.
RCV is the Method of Casting and Tabulating Votes in which Voters Rank Candidates in Order of Preference, Tabulation proceeds in Sequential Rounds in which Last-Place Candidates are Defeated, and the Candidate with the Most Votes in the Final Round is Elected.
HB 360 Establishes a Voter-Nominated Primary Election for the Offices of: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, General Assembly, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives. All Candidates, regardless of Political Party Affiliation, are on a Single Ballot. The Four Candidates receiving the Highest Numbers of Votes are the Candidates for that Office at the General Election. The Bill provides that a General or Special Election for such Offices is Conducted by Ranked-Choice Voting.
HB 360 will be heard following the Convening of the 2020 Legislative Session on Jan. 8th and after Rules are finalized for the Season.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
1 comment:
Virginia already has an open primary, according to every classic definition of the word. The US Supreme Court has defined "open primary" in two opinions, and political science textbooks agree. An "open primary" means a system in which each party has its own primary ballot and its own nominees, but any voter is free to choose any party's primary.
Post a Comment