Ohio Primary Study League of Women Voters Kent

Agenda Introduction History Presentation Q & A Next Steps

THIS NOT THAT

THIS NOT THAT

MAIN OBJECTIVE To determine if the LWVK believes the State of Ohio primary system needs to change and if so, how.

WHY THE STUDY? To review the current primary election system in Ohio To review the challenges/advantages of other systems To see if / should LWVOH take a position on the Ohio Primary Election System

Ohio’s Current Primary System Semi -open (partially), Partisan primary Do you want to keep Ohio’s current system? (question one)

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE MORE IMPORTANT PURPOSE OF A PRIMARY? A way for political party members alone to choose their nominees (partisan) A way for all voters, regardless of political party membership to narrow the field of candidates (nonpartisan) (Question 2)

HISTORIES OF PRIMARIES Party Bosses Corruption Decisions made in closed-door meetings

HISTORY OF PRIMARIES 1903 – Robert LaFollette established first statewide direct primaries 1906 – Ohio adopted statewide direct primaries Early 1920s – Primary system might reduce influence of political parties 1960 – All states adopted statewide direct primaries

QUIZ: What principles should a good primary election system have QUIZ: What principles should a good primary election system have? (Question A) Increase voter participation Enfranchise independent or third party voters Preserve strong political parties Strengthen the viability of the third parties Simplify administration of elections Lessen partisan polarization Reduce costs of elections Result in more competitive general elections Other________________________

INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION Pros Voter participation key for healthy democracy Key to LWV mission Cons Not every voter wants to keep informed of every primary election No compelling evidence starting different primary election systems increase voter participation

ENFRANCHISE INDEPENDENT or THIRD PARTY VOTERS Pros About 40% of all voters are self identified as independents Minor parties are attracting more members Cons Could result in weaker candidates or candidate that does not reflect the party platform Could undermine the integrity of the political parties Could deter voters who do not have time to research each candidate absent the party label

PRESERVE STONG POLITICAL PARTIES Pros Political parties promote political stability Political parties have a right to freedom of association Would strengthen the political parties Cons Strong political parties can stifle independent candidates Strong political parties may be the root of hyper-partisanship

STRENGTHEN THE VIABILITY OF THIRD PARTIES (think OHIO not PRESIDENTIAL primaries) Pros Could increase options for Ohio voters Third parties are often the incubators Cons Third parties are already allowed to take ballots from either party in Ohio primaries Minor party candidates are less likely to win general election Spoiler effect

SIMPLIFY ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Pros People more likely to vote if they understand and see how the system works Streamlining elections such as uniform dates and tabulation system Cons Simplicity ≠ Fairness Making life easier for election officials should not be goal of system

LESSEN PARTISAN POLARIZATION Pros Closed primary system may encourage candidates to take extreme positions Government could operate more efficiently if both sides would compromise (be more moderate) Cons Only two parties – one will always be in control No evidence to say changing the primary system will equate in more moderate candidates

REDUCE THE COSTS OF THE ELECTIONS Pros Elections can be expensive for local governments Cost to candidates can also be formidable Cons Other goals should take priority over cost when choosing election system System might actually cost more due to advanced technologies Some strategies to economize might actually compromise the fairness or accuracy of election system

RESULT IN MORE COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTION Pros Dominant party primary winner typically wins general election easily Cons More achievable way to attach this problem would be through redistricting Might weaken political parties Reforms could increase demands on voters

TYPES OF PRIMARIES A closed, partisan primary election An open, partisan primary election An open, nonpartisan, “top two” primary No primary – nonpartisan general election (currently local only) No primary – “ranked choice” voting or “instant run-off” No primary – “approval” voting

TYPES OF VOTING Majority Plurality Ranked Choice or Instant Run-Off Approval Fusion

HOW DOES RANKED VOTING ACTUALLY WORK? 42% of voters Close to Memphis 26% of voters Close to Nashville 15 % of voters Close to Chattanooga 17 % of voters Close to Knoxville 1. Memphis 1. Nashville 1. Chattanooga 1. Knoxville 2. Nashville 2. Chattanooga 2. Knoxville 3. Chattanooga 3. Knoxville 3. Nashville 4. Knoxville 4. Memphis

HOW DOES RANKED VOTING ACTUALLY WORK? Votes in round City Choice 1st Memphis 42% Nashville 26% Knoxville 17% Chattanooga 15% Votes in round City Choice 1st 2nd Memphis 42% Nashville 26% Knoxville 17% 32% Chattanooga 15%  

HOW DOES RANKED VOTING ACTUALLY WORK? Votes in round City Choice 1st 2nd 3rd Memphis 42% Nashville 26%   Knoxville 17% 32% 58% Chattanooga 15%

FUSION VOTING Two or more political parties list the same candidate Currently legal in seven (7) states Common in New York Being revived currently in South Carolina and Connecticut WHY? Can invigorate elections Solutions to decrease voter participation

Source: Approval Voting www.electology.org

Source: Approval Voting www.electology.org

WHAT OTHER STATES DO? DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Closed, Partisan: DE, FL, KY, MD, NV, NM, NY, OR, PA Open – Partisan: AL, AR, GA, HI, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, ND, SC, TX, UT, VA, WISC Open, Nonpartisan “Top-Two”: CA, LA, NE, WA No Primary – Nonpartisan: currently local only No Primary - Ranked Choice Voting: Maine (statewide elections) San Francisco - Increased minority voting by 300% (source: FairVote and NAF study) No Primary – Approval Voting: currently local level only

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE MORE IMPORTANT PURPOSE OF A PRIMARY WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE MORE IMPORTANT PURPOSE OF A PRIMARY? (QUESTION B) A way for political party members alone to choose their nominees (partisan) A way for all voters, regardless of political party membership to narrow the field of candidates (nonpartisan) Would your answer to the above vary, depending on the level of government? YES or NO

IF YOU ANSWERED YES, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: Level of Government Partisan Nonpartisan U.S. House and Senate Races Statewide office races (Governor, Auditor, etc) OH House and Senate races Countywide office races City, Village and Township races

Ohio’s Current Primary System Semi -Closed (partially), Partisan primary Do you want to keep Ohio’s current system? (Question 4) Yes OR NO

QUESTIONS ??

Primary Consensus meeting THANK Y OU League Members: Primary Consensus meeting January 21, 2017