A Bipartisan Group of Wisconsin Lawmakers Proposed a New kind of Election system for Congressional Races, on Friday, arguing that the State’s Existing system Exacerbates Partisanship and Discourages Compromise.
Currently in Wisconsin, the Winners of Party Primaries compete in the General Election.
This Bill proposes switching to "Final-Five" Voting, which would require Nonpartisan, Single-Ballot Primaries in Federal Races. The Top-Five Candidates would then proceed to the General Election, where Voters would Vote on Ranked-Choice-Voting (RCV) Ballots to determine a Winner through an Instant Runoff.
Last year, Alaska Voters approved a similar "Top Four" Measure by Primary Ballot Initiative with a RCV General Election.
"Right now, members of Congress really don't have the freedom to work in a bipartisan fashion because they can be taken out in a low-turnout party primary," said State Sen. Jeff Smith (D-31st Districy, Eau Claire) a Co-Sponsor of the bill.
The Bill would need the support of a Republican-controlled Legislature to pass, and less than Half the Bill's Sponsors are from the GOP. "It's gonna be an uphill battle," said state Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-5th District, Brookfield) a Co-Sponsor of the Bill.
Kooyenga said the current Primary System gives Voters "a two-dish buffet, which isn’t a much of a buffet," and that this Bill would instead elect Lawmakers who can find Common Ground. "Policy making is often the art of compromise and deliberation and social media and a primary process is often the process of getting a quick hit, getting a quick blow, and looking like a fighter all the time," he said.
Katherine Gehl, whose Family founded a Wisconsin-based Food Distributor, is a Key Advocate oh the Bill. In 2018, she Co-Founded
Democracy Found, an Organization dedicated solely to the Measure’s Passage.
Andy Nunemaker, who hosted a Fundraiser for Trump in 2016, is also Backing the Bill.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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