"In a top-two system, labeled a "jungle primary" by its opponents, all candidates for an office are listed on the same ballot and the two top finishers, regardless of party, then duel in the November general election."
"However, Maldonado - with the support of then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - insisted that his vote hinged on placing the top-two primary before voters. Democrats eventually agreed and Proposition 14, creating the top-two system, appeared on the June 2010 primary ballot with Maldonado and Schwarzenegger contending that it would give moderates and pragmatists in both parties better chances of winning legislative and congressional seats."
"Implemented in the 2012 elections, the top-two system has consistently been a source of confusion for California voters. They have struggled to get used to primary ballots with vast numbers of candidates from all sorts of parties along with self-identified "no party preference" independents."
"These nonpartisan primaries have produced one Democratic and one Republican general-election candidate in most competitive elections. But there have been periodic "lockouts," in which candidates from one party win first and second place in the primary, then face each other in the general election. This possibility can lead to gamesmanship and strategic voting when it matters a great deal whether a lockout occurs."
Top-two elections place all candidates for an office on the same ballot and send the two highest finishers, regardless of party, to the general election. The system was created in California after Democratic state Senate leaders needed a vote to pass a controversial budget and negotiated with Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado, who required the top-two primary to be placed before voters. Proposition 14 created the system and voters approved it in 2010. Implemented in 2012, the system has confused many voters because ballots can include many candidates from multiple parties and “no party preference” independents. It often yields one Democratic and one Republican general-election candidate, but periodic lockouts can occur when one party wins both top primary spots, leading to gamesmanship and strategic voting.
Read at Intelligencer
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]