#party primaries

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Political Reform and Voter Discontent in America

As we approach Election Day, a significant portion of the American populace is feeling a mix of anger, exhaustion, and dissatisfaction with the current political landscape. A mere 4 percent of citizens believe the political system is functioning “extremely” or even “very well.” Trust in the federal government has plummeted, with only 16 percent reporting they trust it “always” or “most of the…

Political Reform and Voter Discontent in America

[samabiade]

The Nigeria of my dreams - Project 16

The Nigeria of my dreams – Project 16

It is obvious that, our nation Nigeria has we have come to know it, is in the doldrums of anguish, unbridled inter regional bitterness, intractable security challenges, gnawing poverty, impoverished populace, and mass exodus of (more…)

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APC release full list of candidates for each state (Details)

APC release full list of candidates for each state (Details)

The All Progressives Congress (APC), released the list of all governorship aspirants in 26 states. This is coming after Thursday’s Osun rerun.

It is said that the aspirants have been cleared to contest for the primaries. Below are the aspirants for each state:

SOUTH SOUTH

Akwa Ibom State

S/N NAME DECISION 1. H.E. Obong Nsima Ekere Cleared 2. Sen. John Akpan Udoedeghe, Phd Cleared 3. Dan Abia,…

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DENVER  | Colorado's independent voters get voice in party primaries

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/42WnwI

DENVER  | Colorado's independent voters get voice in party primaries

DENVER  — Colorado is joining a growing list of states that allow unaffiliated voters — the state’s largest voting bloc — to participate in the major party primaries, thanks to a voter-passed initiative that coincided with disenchantment with the polarization of the 2016 election.

The 2016 initiative allows Colorado’s 1.2 million active independent voters to cast ballots Tuesday in either the Democratic or Republican party primaries on Tuesday. The initiative passed in a year that saw presidential candidate Bernie Sanders defeat Hillary Clinton in Colorado caucuses and yet a strong vote for Donald Trump in the general election, though he lost the state.

Early mail and drop-off ballot returns suggest that more independents are voting Democratic in a tight gubernatorial primary to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper. It’s too early to predict independents’ turnout or impact on the campaigns, advocates said.

“What this means for the races will take time to see,” said Josh Penry, a political consultant and former Republican state Senate minority leader who campaigned for the initiative. “As the parties self-immolate and people flee them, it’s important that they can vote in the semi-finals.”

“The reality is the GOP and the Democrats should be thinking about how to appeal to the people in this enormous bloc,” Penry said.

But there’s little sign that the major party gubernatorial candidates are reaching out in this swing state where Democrats and Republicans each have roughly 1 million registered voters.

Presumed Democratic front-runners U.S. Rep. Jared Polis and former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy espouse universal health care, their public schools credentials, protecting public lands and promoting renewable energy. Republicans, including Treasurer Walker Stapleton, a cousin of President George W. Bush, generally embrace President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and income tax cuts and promote Colorado’s oil and gas industry.

It’s that polar opposite, take-it-or-leave-it campaign buffet that prompted Alex Leith, a Denver civil engineer, to abandon the Democratic Party and become an unaffiliated voter two years ago.

He saw the Sanders and Trump rebellions as signs that traditional party politics weren’t working for people like himself, a self-described fiscal conservative and social liberal.

“I was seeing a lot of hypocrisy coming from Republicans and Democrats,” Leith said. “I wanted to see a return to a common sense ability to actually govern and work across party lines.”

The 27-year-old cast his gubernatorial primary ballot this year for Republican businessman and former state Rep. Victor Mitchell. “He’s willing to not totally align himself with Republican dogma,” Leith said, citing Mitchell’s support for a “red flag” law that would allow the seizure of firearms from those who pose a danger to themselves or others.

“I’m also encouraged by the fact that he’s willing to admit when he isn’t knowledgeable about certain topics — but is willing to study them,” Leith said.

Supporters of the semi-open primary argue that independent voters like Leith pay for the party primaries and should have a say in them.

Whether that generates higher turnout or moderate candidate positions could take several election cycles to determine. Arizona, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and West Virginia also allow independents to vote in primaries.

As of early Thursday, nearly 540,000 Coloradans had voted — including nearly 123,000 independents. Democrats and Republicans had returned about 208,000 ballots for each party.

In 2016, 21 percent of active voters participated in the primary.

“Our data and our experience points to how philosophically diverse Colorado is. There is no such thing as a generic independent,” said Kent Thiry, the CEO of Denver-based dialysis firm DaVita Inc., who spearheaded the 2016 initiative.

“I’ve been an independent most of my adult life,” Thiry said. “To not have a voice until the final election in a country where the primary has become the final election … that is very frustrating to me.”

Thiry’s group released a poll this week suggesting that education, health care, jobs and the economy are the top issues for Colorado’s unaffiliated voters.

Seth Masket, director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver, is skeptical that the new system will produce an immediate impact.

“A lot of states allow some version of this, and honestly the research suggests it doesn’t make that much of a difference whether (the primary) is open or closed,” Masket said. “The nominees end up looking like the one the parties would choose themselves.”

Also running to succeed Hickenlooper are former Democratic state Sen. Mike Johnston and Democratic Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne. Republican businessman Greg Lopez and investment banker Doug Robinson, a nephew of Utah senate candidate Mitt Romney, want their party’s nomination.

Colorado hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 1998.

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By Associated Press

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[toddlyden]

Why Are We Subsidizing the Party System?

As a former political science student and teacher, one thing that has ALWAYS bothered me about the electoral system in the United States: why does the public PAY for party primaries? I can understand the states being responsible for running their general elections to provide opportunity for their citizens to choose mayors, governors and all the way up to president, but for the life of me- why does the public pay for party primaries?

FROM: http://bit.ly/2aUH9o3

Look at that graphic above. You can see how it works here: http://nyti.ms/2aHr7dC Only 9% of the American public selected either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump via the party primary process! So, 9 out of ten of us are paying for the privilege of the remaining less than ten percent to have a chance to participate in what are private organizations selecting their general election candidate. Wow. Do you know how much that cost? According to openprimaries.org, over $425 million dollars this past election cycle. Now, granted, states do choose to hold elections in primary season for other reasons. Ballots can have voter referendum on bond issues or other state elections. But would they choose to if they didn't have to? In my state of North Carolina alone, it was $9,000,000. But the amount is really NOT the issue. Based on Pew Center Research, "...based on 2014 data, [of American voters] 39% identify as independents, 32% as Democrats and 23% as Republicans. Most polls have the registrations as high as 45%. Meaning that a minority of the population is subsidizing the majority's ability to select. I'm with this editorial columnist: make the parties pay for their own elections.  via Blogger http://bit.ly/2aHqPUm