Well, ok, so it isn’t as bad as all that.
I suppose. I was set straight by my friend Kim about primaries and how they work. So, ok, it’s a primary.
But STILL.
If there were 15/20 of each party running, I could maybe see ’em doing a primary (for Coroner, Sheriff, and Judge) but since there are only 3 or 4 running for each post, I STILL think they should just all be on the ballot and everyone should be allowed to vote for whom they will.
Just my two cents’ worth.
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But the reason they don’t do that is because it would dilute their strength in the general election. Say There’s 3 Democrats, DA, DB, and DC that want the position, and there’s one Independent and one Republican. If there’s no primary and they’re all on the ballot, the democratic party votes would be divided up among the three D’s — so say DA gets 25 % of the vote, DB gets 13%, DC gets 12%, I gets 18% and R gets 32% then R is the winner. But if the D’s hold a primary first and narrow it down to DA, in the election DA will get many of the votes that DB and DC would’ve gotten — so DA gets 50% and DB and DC don’t run, and I gets his 18% and R gets 32%, so DA wins and the Democrats get the office.
Of course, that’s oversimplified, but that’s why they have a primary.
And, of course, the answer to wanting more people running is … step up and run. 😉
Oh, sure, like they’d want me for Sheriff or Judge…and I’m not so sure I’d WANT to be Coroner…LOL!!
But I see what you’re saying.
But I still say that if the election *doesn’t have* anything but Democrats, then it should be up for EVERYONE to vote.
Because – by your example – if there’s 3 Democrats that want the position… and NO I and NO R… then … you see? I get NO vote.
In Arkansas, you can declare either party if you so choose in the primary, and then switch the next year, but if you declare one party, you must vote that party in the runoff, if there is one.
I myself could never stand to have that “D” next to my name, so I just don’t bother with it. There are LOTS of Democratic runoffs going on here this year, and my guys are all sitting back and watching them blow their cash on beating eachother.
Usually I think politics is virtualy a dart-toss, but there are some strong candidates here this year that I’m backing.