Arizona's Prop 121 Top Two Primary

Do you understand what the “Top Two Primary” Prop 121 actually will do to the current system?  On the surface it sounds good.  Who does not want all to be able to vote in the Arizona Primary?  Actually Independents can already vote in the primary, they just have to request the appropriate ballot.  All the minority parties: Constitutional, Green, Libertarian and Independent candidates appear on the general election ballot.

Most of the minority parties only have one candidate in the running while the Democrats and Republicans may run up to three or four.  It is the American way.  However, proponents for Prop 121 want to radically change the system throwing out the parties and voting for all the candidates (minority included) with only the “Top Two” receiving the most votes moving on to the general election.  What is wrong with that you ask?  Under the “Top Two Primary” note the following:

ü  Candidates are not “vetted” by any party and may run without declaring party affiliation.

ü  Candidates may state they are one party while actually representing another.

ü  Only the “Top Two” candidates with the most votes go on to the general election eliminating the chance of the Independent, Green, Libertarian and Constitutional parties from making it to the general election ballot.

ü  Increases the power of the party bosses because the more party candidates who run the less the chance of that party’s candidates ending up in the “Top Two”.

ü  Eliminates choice by the voter as the “Top Two” could both be from the same party.

ü  Majority of supporters are Democrats who want more moderate candidates; less conservatives.

ü  Candidates in both state and federal races are forced to spend big bucks to get elected.  Higher cost to taxpayers for primary as all parties will need mailings.

Voters in California just put the “Top Two Primary” into place in time for their June Primary with mixed results.  It is reported that the following actually occurred:

Ø  The Independent and other minority party candidates were killed off and will not appear as a voter choice in the general election.

Ø  The voter turn-out was very weak with only 24% of registered voters (it was 33% in 2010)

Ø  Called a Crapshoot Primary by The Sacramento Bee.   Congressional District 31, a liberal leaning district with a Latino majority, now has two white Republicans running to represent the district because the four Democrat candidates split the vote.

Ø  Democrat candidate in San Diego paid $50,000 for a Republican candidate to be able to run against him.  Such a move prevented his strongest rival, a fellow democrat from making the general election.  It worked and the Democrat expects to beat his Republican opponent in the general election.

Ø  Law suit has been filed over unequal representation

I hope that you consider this matter very seriously.  It is not working in California like the proponents stated it would work and has left voters with fewer choices.  Do we really want to put this broken system in place in Arizona?  VOTE NO on PROP 121.

Jan Baldon
Secretary