Pacific Standard recently published an article on improving U.S. Presidential election primaries. The author poses a provocative proportion: “How to improve the primary process? Make it less democratic. It sounds counterintuitive—and would be a hard sell—but making the way the two major political parties nominate candidates less traditionally democratic could also make it more open to compromise and negotiation.” Specifically, he argues that we should:
- Make the primaries and caucuses proportional rather than winner-take-all;
- Shorten the time between the first and last primaries and caucuses so that candidates who aren’t necessarily winning in fundraising might still make it to the end; and
- Make contests less about the candidates and more about the delegates. This could include unbinding delegates from the voters’ choices.
Very interesting!
Comments 2
Les Francis — September 5, 2017
I am, more often than not, either skeptical of or hostile toward "mechanical" fixes to the political process (the law of unintended consequences plays a big role here). But, I think these ideas are worthy of serious discussion.
Walt Jacobs — September 5, 2017
Indeed. Thanks for the note, Les!