Despite the need, neither Proposition 60 nor 62 is the right way
to reform primary elections in California. The state needs open
primary elections, which would be outlawed under Proposition 60,
and modified beyond all recognition by Proposition 62.
Both Proposition 60 and 62 amend the California constitution,
and both would turn the state in the wrong direction.
Proposition 60 requires all parties that “participate in
the primary election be able to advance their top vote-getting
candidate to the general election.”
But the current closed primary system satisfies this
requirement, and thus would be unchanged.
Open primaries have the advantage of allowing people to vote
their conscience and don’t lock people in with their
party.
Proposition 62 would create a modified open primary system, but
it would further shut out third parties.
The system would be considered a “modified blanket”
primary, where anyone could vote for any candidate in the primary,
but only the two top vote-getters would go forward. In theory, two
Democrats or two Republicans could end up running against each
other.
Our primary system is flawed, particularly by an abundance of
intentionally uncompetitive districts. But these propositions
aren’t the fix California needs.