Let's Get This Straightened Out

I really like this Popular Vote/Delegate Count thing in the party nomination process, and the way it is working out this year (except for being too early in the year, of course); I really despise its equivalent (Electoral College/House of Representative, etc.) in the general election.

Here's the way it should really work, Larry Sabato: Parties would have to pay event-specific costs for primary elections or caucuses, if they have them. By Federal law, state legislatures would be prohibited for paying the expenses for national Presidential nomination-related party voting (actually makes sense under the constitution). To make up for that new restriction, government resources may be used for counting the votes (if you dare!), and local authorities are encouraged to make facilities available at reasonable costs or no costs, as they do for general elections.

To set the stage for each election cycle, the national party announces its preferred date for the Unofficial National Primary for its party (Dems same as Repubs, if they can work it out--that saves cost). National Dems will pay the costs for primary or caucus to any state party organizations that does its primary on that date or later. Presumably, a few states will decide it's worth their while to pay for the presumed extra attention. I'm really hoping the national parties will decide to put their UNP together, and in May or June, but I guess that's their choice.

The Other Shoe

The Presidential election process should be radically modified and simplified through Constitutional amendment. I would argue that the general election of the Leader of the Free World (21st- Century Edition) must be decided by popular vote plurality, adding only the caveat that the winner needs 40% or more of valid votes. Failing that, the top three (not two) should compete in a runoff three weeks afterward, with the same 40% minimum criterion, and then three weeks after that with the final two if necessary. The second runoff under that approach would be around Dec. 15, which is not too late to get ready for January 20. There's time to get it right, and a double runoff would be an extraordinarily rare event.

Nomination for the national ballot requires one million signatures of registered voters (of any party). Anyone on the ballot participates in all debates (regardless of sponsorship) and receives X$ for advertising. No other candidate-related advertising is permitted.

To abolish the Electoral College, we need to get over our fear of amending the Constitution and recognize that the President is not executive of the state governments, but of the Federal government, and more importantly, leader of the people, not of the states. The problems with the original formulation of electing the President from state delegates has been present since 1800 and has not been improved much. Periodically (1820, 1876, 1888, 1960, 2000) it produces jaw-dropping disconnects with the will of voters and a confusing mess. It's an outdated failure; scrap it.