Early Voting Could Upend 2008 Primaries (AP)

[Eugene]

Early Voting Could Upend 2008 Primaries

By JULIA SILVERMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 21, 2007; 3:22 PM

SALEM, Ore. -- Early voting poses an under-the-radar challenge to Iowa
and New Hampshire's long-prized status as the first in the nation to
decide presidential preferences.

Voters in a number of the states that are circling the Feb. 5 presidential
primary date _ including California, Oregon and Montana _ could begin
casting ballots as early as Jan. 5, nine days before the Iowa caucuses.

In at least 10 of the possible Feb. 5 primary states, estimates are that
more than 30 percent of voters cast their ballot before Election Day in
November 2004, some in person at county elections offices, and some
via mail-in ballots.

Political analysts say the early voting trends in those states could force
presidential candidates to recalibrate their strategies and resources in an
already crowded primary season.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032101399.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. i think a national primary is a good idea personally n/t

[rmgarrette64]

7. I'd prefer a rotation

Tough to manage, given the political push-and-tug, but I'd prefer if the parties had some control, and rotated first-in-the-nation each election cycle. But getting the permanent Iowa and New Hampshire camps out of that spot would be a good thing.

A national primary is a bit too much, as it makes the early money too important, and I'd like to see the occasional non-multi millionaire in an election again. Sometime.

R. Garrett

[William769]

2. If I had my way, all 50 States would move to Feb. 5

[napi21]

3. I agree, but the candidates would HATE IT!

I'm not sure HOW yourun in all 50 States at one time, and none of the Candidates are either! As I understand it, the main reason for staggered primaries was to give candidates the opportunity to travel to the various states whose primaries were coming near.

[NoPasaran]

4. I think we should just go back to the smoke-filled room system

Although the room would probably be smoke-free these days.

[zulchzulu]

5. The schedule as it is makes it really a California camp-out

Look at the states leading up to February 5, 2008. California has 441 delegates to the far less combined total delegates from Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. It's also a much more expensive media market than any of those states. It's also much bigger. I would venture to guess that Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina would fit INSIDE California or being almost the same size.

So the race would be basically fought in California if the candidates had any sense at all. And frankly, that's too bad...

Iowa - 7 electoral votes/57 delegates
New Hampshire - 4 electoral votes/27 delegates
Nevada - 5 electoral votes/32 delegates
South Carolina - 8 electoral votes/55 delegates
California - 55 electoral votes/441 delegates

* January 14, 2008 - Iowa
* January 19, 2008 - Nevada
* January 22, 2008 - New Hampshire
* January 29, 2008 - South Carolina
* February 5, 2008 - Delaware, Missouri, California
* February 12, 2008 - District of Columbia, Tennessee, Virginia
* February 19, 2008 - Wisconsin
* February 26, 2008 - Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho
* March 2008 (date to be determined) - American Samoa, Democrats Abroad, Guam, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Virgin Islands, Wyoming
* March 4, 2008 - Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont
* March 7, 2008 - Colorado, Utah
* March 8, 2008 - Kansas
* March 11, 2008 - Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas
* March 18, 2008 - Illinois, Oregon
* April 2008 (date to be determined) - Alaska
* April 1, 2008 - Pennsylvania
* May 6, 2008 - Indiana, North Carolina
* May 13, 2008 - Nebraska, West Virginia
* May 20, 2008 - Arkansas, Kentucky
* May 27, 2008 - Washington
* June 3, 2008 - Alabama, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota
* June 10, 2008 - California (previous date)

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P04/D-Alloc.phtml

[AtomicKitten]

6. NY just moved theirs up to February 5th.

IMO it's about time the rest of the country had a say in the process.

[MaineDem]

8. In Maine, vote by mail starts January 1

Our caucuses are February 10.

[ElboRuum]

9. I've always had a problem with the primaries for this reason.

The Iowa and New Hampshire primaries always build momentum for those candidates polling well in those states. I hate to say it, but I believe that the later primary results are influenced greatly by the front runners going into them.

It's always the same two states, so how is that representative of the national feeling? I mean, let's look at it this way. Supposing the first two states this time around were two strongholded red states? Wouldn't that generate momentum for candidates who might be able to do well in the Midwest or the South?

Someone mentioned the whole rotation idea, which looks pretty good on its face. How to do it? Details... details...