Proponents of the “top-two” system are expecting to qualify an initiative for the Oregon November 2008 ballot, to establish that type of election system. They need 82,579 valid signatures by July 3, and will probably succeed.
BlueOregon has this commentary, by Nick Wirth, about how the system would work in practice. The commentary does not discuss the effect of the proposal on minor parties, but instead focuses on the point that the system will not help moderates to win elections, and it will not result in more voter choice. Thanks to Steve Rankin for the link.
Blue Oregon are just a bunch of Democrats, and we all know how viscious OR was to Nader in ’04. The Democrats in Oregon really functions like a wool sock and sandle wearing ecoyuppie mafia.
Republican Party officials in Oregon are just as opposed to “top-two” as Democratic Party officials are. It’s not a partisan issue. Nader himself came out against the California and Washington “top-two” initiatives in 2004.
One of Oregon’s Democratic congressmen says that the reason Phil Keisling, the ex-secretary of state, is pushing the “top two” is that Keisling knows he can’t win a Democratic primary.
Gee — the WA top primary enters the State — Oregon — that SAVED Democracy in the U.S.A. by having voter petitions for State constitutonal amendments — regardless of EVIL control freak gerrymander party hacks.
How many party hacks will jump into the Pacific Ocean and end their EVIL party hack machinations — after independents wipe out lots of extremist party hacks — especially in the 2nd and 3rd elections with top 2 primaries ???
Don’t be so sure, Demo Rep, that Washington state will even have a 2nd election cycle with the “top two.” Regardless, independents and minor parties will be the ones wiped out by the “top two,” as the 2 final candidates will almost always be 2 Democrats, 2 Republicans, or one of each.
The “top two” will be tougher to get passed in Oregon, since it has stronger parties than Washington does.