Can We Please Make Presidential Elections Shorter and Less Stupid? ( www.thedailybeast.com )

HandsHurtLoL , 11 months ago

All Congress needs to do is add three dates to our campaign law: one for the earliest launch of campaign exploratory committees, one for the launch of campaigns proper, and one for a universal primary vote and caucus day.

I agree that the country needs a single primary voting day, but I cannot see how it is possible to achieve when individual states have laws about the day of their primaries. For example, Iowa always has the first primary because it has a state law to ensure it will always have a primary before any other state. As much I believe we would all benefit from centralizing voting (one universal ballot, national holiday across all business for voting, universal primary day), the reality is that all the things that make your voting experience good or awful are under the purview of the states. I don't see any outcome for the proposal in this writing that doesn't end up in SCOTUS with an opinion that reiterates states' rights.

So I think the tactic is to look at the states like a domino run. Iowa has to be the first, but doesn't have to happen any earlier than it does. Why not instead coax the later primaries into pushing back as far as their laws permit, then slinking back primary dates for middle states, etc., until Iowa starts in July instead of March?

I will also throw in that one reason why campaigning in the US takes so long compared to countries in Europe is because we are 4000% larger in geographical area. Yes, I would like to see shorter primaries in the lead up to the general election, but candidates stand to make impact on their numbers and recruit from undecideds and independents through travel and town hall events. Some politicians such as incumbents are still juggling governing while campaigning. I don't think traipsing across the US in 1-3 months would benefit anyone other than extremely wealthy and bored candidates (as in, they don't have anything more pressing to do but travel). I'm not sure this improves the quality of our options, per se.