DNC presidential primary voting reform--where do you stand?

[geek tragedy]

It looks like there will be three broad subjects when it comes to reforming the presidential primary process for the Democratic primary:

1) reduce or eliminate the influence/numbers of superdelegates;

2) get rid of traditional caucuses in favor of more inclusive, higher turnout primary-like voting

3) ban all closed primaries and make all primaries open to independents and Republicans

Which of these do we favor?

61 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	I favor none of these proposals
	1 (2%)
	I favor all of these proposals
	23 (38%)
	I favor only proposal #1 but oppose proposals #2 and #3
	1 (2%)
	I favor only proposal #2 but oppose proposals #1 and #3
	22 (36%)
	I favor only proposal #3 but oppose proposals #1 and #2
	0 (0%)
	I favor proposals #1 and #2 but oppose proposal #3
	11 (18%)
	I favor proposals #1 and #3 but oppose proposal #2
	2 (3%)
	I favor proposals #2 and #3, but oppose proposal #1
	1 (2%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[tonyt53]

1. #2 is the only one that will be truly considered by each state convention.

Democrats actually like those superdelegates and closed primaries. They work.

[Eric J in MN]

2. For #3, you may have meant to type

..."ban closed primaries" instead of "ban all primaries."

[geek tragedy]

3. yes I did, fixed. Thanks! nt

[tarheelsunc]

4. I support #1 and #2, but I mainly care about #2.

Caucuses are absolutely stupid and disenfranchising.

[Garrett78]

10. +1

[JoePhilly]

23. Same ... I'm not as concerned about the super delegates.

By and large, super delegates have been found to be, by their constituents, usually by their own electoral success, strong democrats.

And even if you stopped having them ... those same people would still ENDORSE their preferred primary candidate any time they wanted. Go on TV and support them, and so on.

[Maru Kitteh]

31. +3 (my family)

[onehandle]

5. Ban caucuses. Keep the rest.

No Republicans or so-called 'Independents' should be able to pick the DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOMINEE.

[Sheepshank]

11. ^^this^^

[peace13]

6. I favor national election with one set of rules, paper ballot counted with verifiable audit trail.

Mandatory audits with observers. These in addition to 1,2 and 3 from above.

[TwilightZone]

7. "national election with one set of rules"

The Constitution tends to get in the way of that one. States are given almost exclusive decision-making authority regarding elections, outside of issues covered by laws like the Voting Rights Act.

To have one set of rules, all states and territories would have to agree on them. Not likely. Some states can't even decide whether to have a caucus or a primary so they have both.

[peace13]

9. I'm Going to say this, as a resident of Ohio and a former poll worker.....

.the system is broken. We have seen it many times this year in States across the country. More will be coming out about the problems. So, we need to work within the confines of the Constitution to construct a system that is valid and accessible to all who are eligible to vote. We need to verify votes and the delivery system. We need mandatory audits across the board. If we don't have these things we don't have an election and what would result is a selection. The States can handle it but the must provide for the above. The Feds aren't shy about handing out money and encouraging black box voting. If it they want these changes they can make it happen.

[geek tragedy]

12. our election system is a hot mess--actually dozens if not hundreds of hot messes

our voters deserve better

[TwilightZone]

16. Agreed

[stevenleser]

25. Agreed but there is an Article 2 Section 1 issue right off the bat trying to do anything from

a federal standpoint http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/provisions.html

THE CONSTITUTION
Article II

Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

[geek tragedy]

26. True, it would require one of many overdue

amendments to the constitution

[Maru Kitteh]

33. Amendments require 2/3 majorities and in both houses

Does anyone really think the states have any desire whatsoever to do that?

Just not happening.

[geek tragedy]

34. Sadly true nt

[brooklynite]

8. A national election would eliminate candidates that Bernie Sanders from the start...

There would be no value in small State retail campaigning. Focus would be on large population centers and advertising.

[Armstead]

13. All of the above, plus.....

I'd add group primaries somewhat differently.

Have a series of smaller UNSuper Tuesdays that are all representative of more diversity in each batch.

[TheKentuckian]

14. I favor #1, #2 I don't feel strongly about either way. I like the more active democracy of the

caucuses over the driver thru version. They also seem to generally have a liberal bias so I see no reason to discourage them but I can live either way.

3. I favor semi open, excluding only registered Republicans.
If that isn't good enough then at minimum fund your own contest and also forgo matching funds and party label and party line voting in the general.
Wanna be a private club then give up institutional and public support and considerations. Strip the perks of duopoly away.

[geek tragedy]

15. rough percentages thus far (combined)

Proposal #1: nearly evenly divided--48% support to 50% oppose
Proposal #2: near-universal support: 98% support
Proposal #3: facing an uphill battle:29% support, 70% oppose

[AgingAmerican]

17. I would say move on with your life

And get past it

[TwilightZone]

18. We're discussing future changes, not the current system/primaries.

That's why they're called proposals.

[AgingAmerican]

37. I see disgruntled supporters of a winning candidate

Attempting to erase the possibility of any non-DNC sanctioned candidate ever having a chance in a Democratic party primary again.



Not possible though, thank god. The states determine their own type of primary elections, sans DNC.

[LongtimeAZDem]

19. Ban caucuses and open primaries; keep superdelegates and closed primaries (nt)

[MadBadger]

20. Seems like an awfully large amount of people like SD's

[geek tragedy]

21. Could reflect primary divisions, and Trump's

rise is also a compelling argument to some

[BainsBane]

22. The DNC doesn't determine whether primaries are open or closed

The constitution grants states the authority to run elections.

My view is that such decisions should consider the long-term results. The current spate of proposals is because people want to rewrite this past election cycle, but that is short sighted. Those who feel frustrated by centrist tendencies on the party of Democrats should realize that opening up primaries will likely move the party closer to the center. If I had an actual vote on this, I would look at the political science research on the subject. What I would not do is make a decision based on which system favored my particular candidate in 2016.

That said, working in GOTV activities taught me that caucuses are extremely restrictive since so few people can actually attend on the night in question. My own state of MN just passed a law moving from caucuses to primaries, and I am thrilled with the change. Since we have no party registration, there are in effect open--with a stipulation and which party primary one votes in becomes a matter of public record.

[geek tragedy]

24. I understand that, presumably some hortatory language

would have to substitute

[Agnosticsherbet]

27. I would go for a semi open primary like California.

I think it is a bad idea to allow Republicans to vote in the Democratic Primary. The Greens in California ran a closed primary, so I would oppose them, too.

In a semi-open primary, those who voted in the Democratic Primary would be registered as Democrats.

Finally, I think same-day registration for those who have never registered before is a good idea.

[Lord Magus]

28. Caucuses are absolutely awful and I don't understand why anyone would still favor them.

If a state tried to hold caucuses for the general election, that would never be considered acceptable. Why then is it okay to select a nominee with caucuses?

Honestly, my preference would be to just have a single nationwide primary day and have whoever gets the most votes is the nominee. No caucuses, no state conventions and no delegates at all. Just use popular vote to decide it.

[IADEMO2004]

29. I have the warm fuzzies for the Iowa Caucus

Spending a couple hours every four years with a room full of my democratic neighbors is wonderful. I'm in a small precinct with less than a hundred attending in a big year.

[Lyric]

30. Superdelegates save us from cults of personality like Trump.

Caucuses are incredibly unDemocratic and they are discriminatory against people with certain mental illnesses that involve social anxiety, fear of large crowds, fear of public speaking, etc. We get far better turnouts with private individual voting.

Open primaries make it too easy for members of other parties to sabotage the nomination process. Absolutely not, never, no way.

However, I WOULD support a national system like Oregon has, where you can vote entirely by mail. That would increase participation by disabled and elderly people, as well as poor people who can't get time off to go vote.

[democrattotheend]

32. What about same day registration?

That is another thing Bernie is pushing. Why is that not on your list?

[geek tragedy]

38. Exponential permutations.

16 is a much bigger pain to write out than 8.

[SpareribSP]

36. #3 is a bit severe.

Perhaps semi-open to independents, but not republicans. At the very least, there should be plenty of time to change party if closed, none of that New York nonsense.

Also we should reinstate the voting rights act. I live in Arizona and have a lot of friends in Pheonix who tried to vote day of... Enough said, I think

[bigwillq]

39. I support all 3 (nt)!