February 5, 2004
Statement to the
Media
A Challenge to the
Legislature:
IMPROVE on Washington State's Blanket
Primary
with Instant Runoff
Voting
On September 15, 2003, the Federal Court of
Appeals ruled Washington's blanket primary to be unconstitutional, thus
striking down our highly popular electoral system that allows voters to
select any candidate on the ballot regardless of the voter's party
affiliation.
Washington legislators, charged with finding an
alternative to the blanket primary system, find themselves in a political
minefield. In many cases, Democrat and Republican Party bosses are in
conflict with their own elected members (many legislators are in office
today through the blanket primary), as well as with popular sentiment and
the interests of minor parties.
What can pressured lawmakers do?
They can build on the history and tradition of
grassroots activism in our state by adopting Instant Runoff Voting as the
means for insuring the broadest possible ballot access and
democracy.
Stand up to the party bosses
The blanket primary system was created in 1935
as a reform measure to restore voters' privacy rights by wresting control
of elections from the stranglehold of party bureaucrats. It permits
grassroots candidates to place their name on the ballot under any major
party they select, and allows Washington residents to vote without first
being forced to declare a party affiliation.
If today s Democrat and Republican party
honchos prevail, only candidates chosen through "closed"
primaries would appear on the general election ballot. Further, residents
will be required to publicly declare a party allegiance before
they can vote and will then be restricted to candidates on that party's
ticket only.
The rights of minor parties, independent
voters, and grassroots politicians will be severely curtailed.
Variations on this theme include Montana s
"Open Primary, Private Choice" approach or closed party
caucuses, both of which are being considered as options in Olympia but
should be soundly rejected.
Another option under consideration is the
"Louisiana" or "qualifying" primary, which looks like
the blanket primary on the surface but, in fact, represents a severe
narrowing of polling choices. In this scenario, the top two vote getters,
regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. The end
result? Minor parties would rarely appear on the November ballot and,
absurdly, the two candidates in the general election could be
from the same party!
Turn voter apathy
around
Interest in elections is strengthened by
more, not fewer, ballot choices. Minor parties on the ballot
enliven public debate by broadening the range of ideas and issues
discussed during political campaigns. And this increases the likelihood
that those who would not otherwise vote might find a candidate who
expresses their views.
Washington fares better than other states in
electoral activism due, in part, to the blanket primary. But if ballot
access is restricted, we will soon join the rest of the nation in a
crisis of voter abstention.
Adopt the progressive, democratic
solution
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a polling method
that improves on the current system. With IRV, voters rank candidates in
order of choice. If no one receives a clear majority, successive runoff
counts are conducted using voters alternate selections until someone
emerges with a clear majority.
IRV offers more variety by including multiple
office seekers in single-seat races, thus increasing participation on
Election Day. It improves conditions for alternative parties and
independents by allowing voters to cast their ballots without fear of
"throwing away" their vote on a minor contender because, if
this candidate is eliminated, their other ranked choices are counted. IRV
also saves taxpayers the cost of a primary (and of subsidizing the
selection of candidates from only two major parties) since the winnowing
process occurs in a single "general" election.
Let's move forward with IRV and set an example
for other states to follow.
Issued by: Freedom Socialist
Party
5018 Rainier Avenue
South
Seattle, WA
98118
206-722-2453
FSPseattle@mindspring.com
www.socialism.com