Alaska's Blanket or Combined Primary History

The more I look at "Top-Two" primary voting, I find it too restrictive, removing the ability of a write-in effort. It also takes away the parties ability to opt-in or opt-out of the process.

So I decided the "Blanket Primary" would be a better choice if the process let the parties decide if they wanted to participate. This led me to Alaska.

The Voter Registration form:

Political Affiliation. Select only ONE.

Political Partiy:
- Alaska Democratic Party
- Alaska Libertarian Party
- Alaska Republican Party
- Alaskan Independence Party

Or Political Groups:
- Green Party of Alaska
- Alaska Constitution Party
- Veterans Party of Alaska

Or Other:
- Nonpartisan (no party affiliation)
- Undeclared (no party declared)
- _________________________________

2003 - State Superior Court allowed parties to appear on a Combined Party ballot

The Alaska Superior Court, in Green Party et al. v. State Of Alaska et al., prevented the State from enforcing portions of election laws regarding the Primary Election in 2004. The ruling allowed parties to decide if they wanted to appear on a Combined Party ballot. Parties also specified which voters could have access to their ballots. Parties were given until June 1, 2004 to indicate to the State, through their bylaws, if they wanted to appear on a Combined Party ballot, and which voters would have access to their ballot.

2004 - Voters to choose from three ballots in the Primary

The Republican Party chose to have only Republican candidates on its Primary ballot, and ONLY those voters registered Republican, nonpartisan and undeclared had access to the Republican ballot.

The Alaska Libertarian Party, the Alaskan Independence Party, and the Green Party of Alaska agreed to be on a Combined Party ballot available to all registered voters.

On the third ballot, the Alaska Democratic Party appears on a Combined Party ballot with the Alaska Libertarian Party, the Alaska Independence Party and the Green Party of Alaska. The Democratic Party specified this ballot to be accessible to all voters except Republicans.

2006 - Voters to choose from three ballots in the Primary

The Republican Party chose to have only Republican candidates on its Primary ballot, and ONLY those voters registered Republican, nonpartisan and undeclared had access to the Republican ballot.

The Alaska Democratic Party, the Alaska Libertarian Party, the Alaskan Independence Party, and the Green Party of Alaska agreed to be on a Combined Party ballot available to all registered voters.

The third ballot type contained ballot measures only and did not include any candidates. This ballot was for voters who did not want to vote for any candidates.

2008 to 2012 - Voters to choose from three ballots in the Primary

The Republican Party chose to have only Republican candidates on its Primary ballot, and ONLY those voters registered Republican, nonpartisan and undeclared had access to the Republican ballot.

The Alaska Democratic Party, the Alaska Libertarian Party, and the Alaskan Independence Party agreed to be on a combined party ballot available to all registered voters. The Green Party of Alaska no longer met the qualifications of a recognized political party in Alaska and was therefore prohibited from appearing on a party ballot for the 2008 Primary election.

The third ballot type contained ballot measures only and did not include any candidates. This ballot was for voters who did not want to vote for any candidates.

General Election

The name of the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for an office by a political party on the Primary Election ballot will advance to the General Election ballot. Candidates who do not represent a political party (no-party candidates) certified by the director will appear on the General Election ballot. A space will be provided in each race on the General Election ballot for voters to record the name of a write-in candidate certified by the director.

So the concept of a blanket primary with the parties by-laws accepting the process passed constitutionality in Alaska.

I think there is more tweaking for this type of primary to be accepted in other states. Blanket or Combined, this still does not allow voters to select their candidate choices irregardless of their party or non-party association.

Interesting that the Republicans allowed nonpartisan and undeclared voters to take part in their primary.

How would you modify this type of primary?










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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How a Blanket Primary Works

I have been an advocate of allowing all voters to take part in their state's primary system. I am opposed to the closed system we have in New York. It amounts to taxation without representation. Our taxes are being used to run the primary system, but the 2,249,506 voters registered in no party can not take part in the political process.

I have been interested in the top-two system implemented in California and have reviewed the many state plans being discussed in state legislatures. But I think a better option is the blanket primary.

In a blanket primary, voters may pick one candidate for each office without regard to party lines; for instance, a voter might select a Democratic candidate for governor and a Republican candidate for senator. The candidates with the highest votes by party for each office advance to the general election, as the respective party's nominee. A blanket primary gives registered voters maximum choice in selecting candidates.

One state, Alaska, comes close to my ideal system, but is not there yet. Their modified blanket primary was configured to satisfy Supreme Court decisions about the rights of association of parties.

They have two types of primary ballots:

- The Blanket Ballot of qualified parties: Alaska Democratic Party, the Alaska Libertarian Party and the Alaskan Independence Party agreed to be on a combined party ballot available to all registered voters. This ballot was referred to as the Alaskan Independence, Alaska Democratic and Alaska Libertarian (A-D-L) Candidate and Ballot Measures ballot.

- The Republican Party chose to have only Republican candidates on its Primary ballot, and ONLY those voters registered Republican, but also allowed nonpartisan and undeclared access to the Republican ballot. This ballot was referred to as the Republican Candidate and Ballot Measures ballot.

In their election system, write-ins are allowed on the General Election ballot.

In 2012, the U.S. Representative race had 5 Democrats and 1 Libertarian on the Blanket Primary ballot and 3 Republicans on the Republican ballot. So in the General, there was a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and a Non-Affiliated who collected the necessary signatures to get on the General ballot.

We are almost there. When 271,866 independent (nonpartisan + undeclared) registered voters out of 513,880 registered voters could only vote in the Republican Primary, is not as open as I want.

So how do we get all registered voters in the country take part in the political process and get by the right of association?

Let me know your thoughts on this issue.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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