I-872 is not a wise initiative to support. While it changes the current primary system we have, it makes it worse. If I-872 passes, voters will not have a choice of whom to vote for in the general election, whereas in the current new system, we are allowed to cross party lines or vote down the party line as we wish in the general election.
I really don’t understand the big fuss about the new primary system. It has no affect on the general election, which actually counts, so why are people so bent out of shape about not being allowed to vote for the other side?
The new primary serves as choosing the best candidate to represent that party for that particular race. Democrats don’t want Republicans to vote in their races, and vice versa.
For instance, in this year’s Democratic governor race, Republicans would have loved to have had to face Ron Sims in the general election instead of Chris Gregoire. No disrespect to Mr. Sims, I have the utmost respect for him, but Chris Gregoire is a better candidate for the seat of the governor.
Now, if our old system were in place, you can bet that some Republicans would have voted for Ron Sims so he could win the primary to face Rossi in the general. And that is not the intention of the primary election. Still with me?
With the new system, Republicans voted for Republicans and Democrats for Democrats -- now Rossi faces Gregoire where quite honestly, he doesn’t stand much of a chance. Gregoire is just the better candidate and has more and the right experience for the governor's seat, and others share this view as the most recent poll done by SurveyUSA has Gregoire (51%) with a ten point lead over Rossi (41%).
Back to I-872 -- I am hoping voters don’t vote with their emotions, and understand voting for this new system would make things worse and they’d even be more upset because their party candidate might not be represented in the general.
Honestly, if I-872 does pass, it won’t hold for too long. I am sure both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party will sue because they want their parties represented in every general election, and both parties are very much against I-872.
Oh, and you can forget about third parties because they will be non-existent in every general election if you vote for I-872.
I hope that clears things up more, and I hope voters educate themselves and see the downfalls of supporting I-872.
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