Wednesday, November 27, 2024

CALIFORNIA JUNGLE PRIMARY MAY BE HEADED TO THE ASH HEAP

By Bob Walsh

 


The California voting system now uses what is commonly called a Top Two or Jungle primary system.  In that system ONLY the top two vote getters in the primary, no matter what their party affiliation or non-affiliation, move on to the general election.

The Peace and Freedom Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and five specific former candidates are now suing in the U. S. District Court of Northern California to have the system thrown out as it allegedly is unfair to minority party and unaffiliated candidates.  They are asserting the current procedure violates the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Clearly the system screws minority and independent candidates.  Whether that is inherently unfair or unconstitutional is another matter.

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