Drastic changes to California’s constitution are often the result of an electorate swindled by special interest groups and partisan hacks. Proposition 14 or the Top Two Primaries Act, which voters approved in June’s primary elections, may be a small step away from this trend.
The proposition was legislatively referred and it will effectively give Californians an open primary.
Voters will no longer be limited to selecting candidates from their respective political parties in primary elections. Rather, the top two vote getters will compete against each other in the state’s general election — regardless of party affiliation.
Opponents of the proposition have lamented the death of California’s minor political parties, notably the Green, Libertarian, and Peace and Freedom parties, claiming that the proposition will limit voter choice. Some, like the Orange County Register, have even claimed that the change would actually take power away from voters by allowing “party bosses and political insiders” to “pick party nominees, rather than registered, committed party members.”
Yet much of these arguments center on a belief that political parties are actually beneficial to the electorate. But who’s to say they are? In the presence of large, dominant parties, minor parties are instrumental to democracy. However, Proposition 14 will effectively weaken all political parties, giving candidates much needed wiggle room.
Past California primaries, including this most recent one, have served only to polarize political candidates and this polarization has lead to one thing: a dysfunctional legislature.
In defense, the American Civil Liberties Union claims political parties “organize the choices of the electorate” and “bring alternative policies and candidates to the attention of the voters.” They couldn’t be more right. The American political party is a form of political training wheels. Californians, however, have decided to do it alone.
Before the passage of Proposition 14, primary candidates had to rely on their party’s most organized members. Unfortunately, this meant an appeal to the extreme — not the majority. California Republicans, especially because of limited party membership, were forced to appeal to more conservative voters. Democrats faced similar issues, but were somewhat spared because of a larger party membership. For the average California voter, this meant a general election laced with false dilemma.
By moving focus away from the edges of the political spectrum — both left and right — Proposition 14 will rescue the majority of Californians from a ‘pick your poison’ general election. Moderate Republicans may appeal to Democratic voters. Likewise, moderate Democrats may appeal to Republican voters. All this will presumably lead to public officials who will labor for a majority of Californians.
Of course, there is a catch. Naysayers have pointed out that similar legislation in states like Washington have limited voter turnout. In a state that already holds a dismal active electorate, this will be a problem. Ideologically, pinned Californians vote more often than their moderate counterparts, and if they find moderate candidates unattractive, they might just stay home on Election Day.
The remaining voters may more accurately represent the majority of Californians but that doesn’t mean you should stay at home, too. Californians must vote for Proposition 14 to be effective. This isn’t to say that one should go to the ballot box uninformed. On the contrary, California does not need to elect an Alvin Greene a la South Carolina.
Some suggest that moderation is tantamount to apathy, but this does not have to be the case. A moderate voter should have the same passion as someone far left or right.
With the passage of Proposition 14, Californians have chosen to weaken the power and influence of political parties and special interests in their state. The death of California’s political parties, however, comes with great responsibility. The California electorate must now not only vote, but also be informed. Proposition 14 will cease to benefit Californians if they continue to rely on America’s political training wheels.
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