1. Ohio Primary Study League of Women Voters Kent

2. Agenda
Introduction
History
Presentation
Q & A
Next Steps

3. THIS NOT THAT

4. THIS NOT THAT

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

6. 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

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

8. 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)

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

10. 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

11. 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________________________

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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%

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

25. 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

26. Source: Approval Voting www.electology.org

27. Source: Approval Voting www.electology.org

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

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

32. QUESTIONS ??

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