South Carolina Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) has introduced SB 204, concerning presidential primaries. Currently, the government pays most of the expenses of presidential primaries for parties that polled at least 5% of the presidential vote in the last election. The bill would require such parties to confer and agree on a common date for their presidential primaries. If they can’t come to an agreement, the presidential primaries would either be held in June, or else the parties would be required to pay all the administrative expenses.
In 2012, the Republican primary was January 21 and Democrats didn’t have a presidential primary. In 2008, Republicans had a presidential primary on January 19 and Democrats had theirs on January 26. Obviously it costs much more when the two primaries are held on different days. Thanks to FrontloadingHQ for this news.
Doesn’t it say a lot about politicians that the SC legislature took over the presidential primaries in 2011, and now complains about the expense?
People shouldn’t be taxed to pay for any party’s nomination process.
I agree. However, we should add the proviso that the government should also not be allowed to dictate any party’s nomination process.