Growing number of voters ignore primary elections

[a kennedy]

WASHINGTON — Halfway through this year's primary season, voters are showing little interest in picking candidates for the Nov. 7 elections that will determine control of Congress and elect more than one-third of the nation's governors.

Twenty-five states held primaries through June 27. Sixteen of the 22 states that have certified figures or provided estimates to USA TODAY recorded voter turnout lower than 2002, the last national election that wasn't in a presidential year.

STORY: Fewer voters 'define range of choices'

Some experts worry that a voter boycott of primaries could result in politics being dominated by single-issue special-interest groups.

"The higher the turnout, the more representative an election is," says Rhodes Cook, publisher of a non-partisan political newsletter. "The lower the turnout, the more the election is likely to reflect a wing of a party or an ideology."

Turnout hasn't cracked 40% in any state. In most, primary participation was in the 20%-30% range. Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia posted their lowest primary turnouts in at least eight years.

So far, the year's rock-bottom has come in Virginia, which did not have a 2002 primary. The June 13 Democratic Senate primary drew national attention and was open to all Virginians, regardless of their party. Fewer than 4% of more than 4.5 million eligible voters showed up to nominate former Navy secretary Jim Webb to face Sen. George Allen in November.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-07-16-primary-turnouts_x.htm

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. As we see in Washington State

Rather than spend money against a hostile electorate, the DNC appointed winner just buys up the primary challengers. Eliminate the challengers, and you eliminate the threat.

[Rose Siding]

2. The DNC does not involve itself in chosing favorites in primaries.

If there was any organizational involvement, it would have come from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DCSS), although there is no public information that I'm aware of to support that. Cantwell's campaign did the deal.

At any rate, the DNC doesn't have the will or the power to dabble in primaries.

(edit for clarity)

[Totally Committed]

3. So, it's us who need to put the bee in their bonnets, so to speak...

I do most of my "talking" in the run-up to the primaries to get people to the polls. On Primary election day, I have, in the past, even driven people to the polls. We must get people involved again in the process. We can't let professional politicos run our Party inot the ground.

Talk it up. Volunteer. Do whatever you can do to get people to the polls on Primary day.

TC

[Rose Siding]

5. I was responding to the post about the race in WA

-saying that the DNC doesn't involve itself in selecting primary victors.

They encourage everyone to participate and to vote in the primary- I wasn't suggesting that they don't. But yes, doing all the things you suggest are important, too. -That's just the kind of thing the DNC would support.

[Joy Anne]

4. Thanks for the tip. My LTTE:

Re http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-07-16-primary-turnouts_x.htm

If I lived in Virginia, I'd have been excited to participate in a real primary with two ready-for-prime-time contenders.

Here in Pennsylvania, nobody would have shown up for the senator and governor primaries if a lot of people hadn't wanted to expel the entire state legislature. The national Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recruited its own Senate candidate to oppose Rick Santorum and forced out name-brand contenders who were eager to depose the scandal-ridden incumbent, and their Republican counterparts selected a former sports star to oppose Ed Rendell while forcing out of the race an experienced lieutenant governor and an accomplished senior state legislator.

So why bother going to the polling place to endorse the selections made in advance? Can we still have all the deals made in the proverbial smoke-filled rooms when smoking is banned nearly everywhere?

[bdamomma]

6. maybe voting is just not a priority with some people

:sarcasm: