General Discussion

stopbush

(24,810 posts)

14. States run elections, including primaries and caucuses.

Fri May 6, 2016, 03:04 PM

May 2016

They decide whether the primaries will be open or closed. The political parties then decide if they want to run in each state's primaries. The parties pay the states a fee to participate in the primaries.

The political parties don't have to enter the primaries if they don't want to. Most third parties don't bother entering primaries. Their candidates are selected the old fashioned way, by small groups of elites deciding who will run. The Ds and Rs participate in all the primaries because they can afford to, and their reach is nationwide. They hope that people participating in a primary and voting for their slate of candidates will also show up in the fall and vote for their candidate. That's really the only reason the Rs and Ds participate in the primaries. It would be much easier to nominate a REAL Party type if the general public wasn't given any say in the process.

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Closed Primaries should be paid for by the parties, NOT the public [View all] FrodosPet May 2016 OP

Hear hear. Shadowflash May 2016 #1

But all you have to do is join a political party corkhead May 2016 #2

I don't have any kids so I shouldn't have to pay for public schools then right? nt TeamPooka May 2016 #3

If your kids could not attend public school after you paid for them LiberalAndProud May 2016 #4

I don't think I would ever pay for my kids to go to pubic school. NobodyHere May 2016 #9

Public school bashing on this board. Why am I not surprised? LiberalAndProud May 2016 #15

not bashing public schools, just making a point about paying for things not TeamPooka May 2016 #25

Once again, you are comparing apples and rocks nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #26

from the person who compares rocks and water. nt TeamPooka May 2016 #29

Public vs Private nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #30

It's all anti-party bullshit. Anything to tear down the Democratic party, their process and strength TeamPooka May 2016 #33

You (and the Rs mind you) want to have it both ways nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #35

We take out of public schools no more than what we put into public schools. LanternWaste May 2016 #17

Libertarian madness Renew Deal May 2016 #31

Key word public nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #10

Free public school benefits everyone. Lizzie Poppet May 2016 #16

correct analogy, should you have to pay for a school that your children are not allowed to attend? virtualobserver May 2016 #34

Everyone should be allowed to vote DURHAM D May 2016 #5

I don't like the idea of open primaries meow2u3 May 2016 #18

Exactly. Probably why they were started in the first place. Kingofalldems May 2016 #19

That, like the guy voting twice is mostly an urban myth nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #20

No thanks n/t SickOfTheOnePct May 2016 #24

Why stop there Fresh_Start May 2016 #6

That is a very good point FrodosPet May 2016 #7

Why should the tax payers be required to pay for an open primary? NobodyHere May 2016 #8

Maybe they shouldn't FrodosPet May 2016 #11

Thanks NobodyHere May 2016 #12

ABSOLUTELY NOT LaydeeBug May 2016 #13

States run elections, including primaries and caucuses. stopbush May 2016 #14

You mean like the Democratic State of Hawaii, where the caucus is run by the PARTY with no imput nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #21

If I started a political party I wouldn't expect taxpayer funding for helping choose our candidate. Nye Bevan May 2016 #22

Or, an open national primary funded by the government. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #23

Shoulda woulda coulda WhiteTara May 2016 #27

is anyone making you not register for a party? La Lioness Priyanka May 2016 #28

Political parties should not be private corporations that drive their own agenda. Rex May 2016 #32