Sometimes supporters of top-two open primary systems say that their system eliminates “spoiling”, i.e., the so-called tendency of minor party candidates in a race to alter the identity of the winner. But, that argument is faulty. This is clearly illustrated in the First Assembly District results in California’s June 5 primary.

Two Republicans ran: Brian Dahle received 31,687 votes, and Rick Bosetti received 25,820 votes. They will be the only candidates in November. They are both firm opponents of any tax increases. In addition, one Democrat, Robert Meacher, ran. He received 24,081 votes, not enough to qualify for the November ballot. Also, Green Party member David Edwards ran, and received 5,225 votes; and Libertarian Charley Hooper ran and received 4,839 votes. Here is a newspaper story, in which the Democrat, Robert Meacher, says that if the two minor party candidates had not been in the race, he would have received enough votes to qualify for the November ballot. See the fifth paragraph in the story. Meacher is probably correct.

Assembly District One consists of the northeast corner of California. If California still used a normal system in which party members nominate candidates for the November election, voters in this district in November would be able to vote for any one of four parties, for Assembly. But, in reality, voters will be restricted to choosing between two Republicans, both of whom are very similar on the issues.

If top-two supporters are sincere that they wish to eliminate “spoiling”, it would be more rational for them to support Instant Runoff Voting or Approval Voting.

Virginia law allows all parties to decide whether to nominate by convention or primary. Virginia elects its governors in the odd years following presidential election years. The party will decide on June 16 whether to use a convention or a primary for its statewide nominees in 2013. The forces arguing in favor of a convention argue that, if the party chooses a convention, that would save the taxpayers $3,000,000. The pro-primary forces argues that conventions disenfranchise voters who are overseas, and also that if the party holds a convention, that would deplete the party’s bank account. See this story.

The Independent Green Party expects to place five nominees on the 2012 ballot for U.S. House. If the party succeeds, it will have more 2012 nominees for that office on the ballot in Virginia than any party (other than Democrats and Republicans) since 1916. Back in 1916, the Socialist Party had nominees in nine of the ten districts.

The Independent Green Party petition drives are being helped by the fact that this is the first year that circulators need not live in the candidate’s district, since 1980. The district residency requirement for circulators was declared unconstitutional earlier this year in Lux v Judd.