Massachusetts Bill for a Combined Presidential Primary/Primary for Other Office, in June

Two Massachusetts representatives, James Dwyer (D-Woburn) and Bradley Jones (R-North Reading) have introduced HB 1972, to move the presidential primary from February to June. The bill also moves the primary for other office from September to June. The state would save money by holding only one primary instead of two.

The bill, if enacted, would not affect the deadline for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, to get on the ballot. That deadline would remain in July.

The idea of a Massachusetts presidential primary that late in the year is completely new to that state. Massachusetts has held a presidential primary in every presidential election year starting in 1912, and it has always been in February, March, or April. Thanks to Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ for this news.


Comments

Massachusetts Bill for a Combined Presidential Primary/Primary for Other Office, in June — 6 Comments

  1. If they adopted a Top 2 Primary for all offices including President, they could combine them in September. The deadline for all candidates could remain in July, and there would be no need to qualify parties.

  2. No state is going to be able to hold September primaries for federal office any longer, due to the law Congress passed telling states they must mail overseas absentee ballots at least 45 days before an election.

  3. #2 Sooner or later they are going to figure out how to handle in person voting for overseas voters. If Iran can hold elections in the USA, surely the USA can do the same.

    Overseas voters should register through the federal government, which would also allow them to be included in apportionment counts.

    Then states could simply send ballots electronically to the federal government, which would transmit them to overseas voting centers in embassies and consulates. They could verify identity and shift the completed ballot back to the US.

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  5. Top two (IE top one masquerading as two) primary for president, no Libertarian, Green or any other alternative representation in the process during the part of the election cycle most anyone pays attention to, that would be the ultimate nightmare. That would eliminate all real opposition from the ballot.

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