(CA) State initiatives push for open primaries, redistricting reform

[question everything]

(snip)

An initiative that seems certain to qualify for the November ballot would open now-closed primaries by allowing voters to choose any candidate regardless of party affiliation. Only the top two vote-getters in the primary would move on, raising the prospect of an all-Democrat general election in San Francisco or a Republican-only field in Orange County, under the measure, which is sponsored by an influential bipartisan team and backed by wealthy patrons.

The presidential primary would remain a closed affair for party members only.

(snip)

Maverick lawmakers are crafting legislation that could end the Legislature's established means of self-preservation: the once-a-decade process of drawing new political boundary lines, or reapportionment.

Over the years, the Legislature's creative cartographers have drawn cradle-, fettuccine-, and fingertip-shaped districts, using party registration as the dominant consideration. The differences in party registration are narrower than 8 percent in only about a dozen of 120 legislative districts. As a result, critics say, most races are decided during the primary.

(snip)

Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040321/news_1n21elect.html

[mrdmk]

1. Here is the scam

This will make the Republicans and Democrats the only parties that will be voted on the November Ballots. It is a way to keep the major parties in power over any minor parties.

What keeps most people at home on election day is voting for the lesser of two evils on election day. One needs to remember that the mayor of San Francisco was almost a Green Party member. Nothing new here, just the major parties making sure they stay in control.

[FlemingsGhost]

2. Bingo!

Both sides are in it knee deep.

It's gonna take a revolution...

[Piperay]

3. Ech...

they tried that a few years back and it didn't work. I don't like the idea of people that haven't committed to the Democratic Party being able to choose our candidate for a General Election and I would think the repugs would feel the same about us meddling in theirs. What's the point of even committing to a Party if outsiders can have so much input in the candidate choice, :shrug: plus this would doom some areas from ever have anyone any different representation. :-(

[Disturbed]

4. More Sheeit!!!

As a Green Party member in CA, I will of course vote no for this crap.

[shanti]

5. runoff elections

what happened to that idea???