The August 19 Newsday has this editorial, suggesting several changes to how candidates for partisan office are nominated in New York. Newsday is the largest daily newspaper in New York’s suburban counties on Long Island. The editorial recommends that voters be allowed to switch parties and make that switch effective quickly. Current law won’t let a voter switch parties except in the year before the change takes effect.
The editorial also calls on making it illegal for two parties to jointly nominate the same candidate, but the editorial writer (and many of the commenters) seem unaware that in 1912, the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, interpreted the New York Constitution to protect the ability of two parties to nominate the same candidate.
The editorial also recommends easier ballot access for candidates to get on a primary ballot. The New York legislature has adjourned for the year, so any changes can’t be made until next year. Thanks to William Stevenson for the link.
There is no reason for partisan elections for local or judicial offices. If the district attorney were elected on a non-partisan basis, the parties would be free to endorse or not, and it might be possible to have a challenger running on a non-partisan basis, rather than trying to get on one of party lines.
Similarly, it is absurd that highway superintendent is a partisan post.
Annexing insular New York to Bermuda and making Michael Bloomberg king would make more sense.
If partisan races were retained for legislative bodies, eliminate the “lines” and use a system like that formerly used in California, where a candidate could seek multiple party nominations. If a candidate wanted the Independence nomination, let him collect signatures from Independence party members; and similarly for the other parties. Add some quorum requirements (eg 1% of total primary vote in the primary).
The first order of business for the NY State legislature when it reconvenes in January needs to be in regard to NY Election Law as it pertains to Party nominations–and that is to say there needs to be enacted into state law a single June primary beginning in 2014. Uncertainty in respect to the primary dates at this late time is highly prejudicial to independents and thrid party voters and candidates.