Why can't there be a federal law on primary dates?

[yurbud]

I just read the Republicans are following Dems in punishing states that moved up their primaries, so at least the Dems won't be committing political suicide by doing so.

But it should not be up to the parties to enforce this nonsense.

Why can't there be a federal law specifying a half dozen regional primary dates for presidential election years, and regions through those dates every cycle. And just for the hell of it, let New Hampshire and Iowa do their traditional thing.

[Cleita]

1. Why don't we just set one day nationwide for primaries like we

do elections? Surely, it can't be that hard!

[CrispyQ]

2. We need a national primary.

By the time my state votes it hardly matters. Great. :eyes:

[PA Democrat]

4. Same here. Our primary is April 22.

[Kagemusha]

3. Because it's none of the federal government's damned business?

The electoral college system puts the manner by which elections are regulated up to the states. Until that system changes, states' rights reigns supreme on this very fundamental issue of political freedom. In other words, the states have the right to act like idiots and make life hard for the national parties, and no act of Congress can change that.

[rucky]

5. Yep! n/t

[yurbud]

14. it's not just hard on parties, it means money determines who wins even more since the whole

process is so front-loaded.

[CK_John]

6. A quick reading of the constitution would show that the states control their election laws. Do we

not understand our form of government? Why do we think everything is a federal issue.

[tyedyeto]

7. It's not up to the Feds to control primaries but now.....

the controlling parties are dictating to the states when to hold primaries. That is what needs to be changed. That should never be left up to ANY political party to decide.

[Kagemusha]

8. Have you not noticed the parties have not forcibly altered a single date?

They have no power to dictate the dates. And guess what. THEY AREN'T. The states are happily ignoring the parties, and the parties are unhappily dealing with the consequences, because they have no other choice.

Now... the real question is, why can't the states dictate the primary schedule to the national parties? Ah, well you didn't ask but I shall tell you anyway: 1st Amendment, Freedom of Association. The states cannot dictate to the national parties who the national parties will recognize as the national nominee.

Now, do the states need to recognize who the national parties say is the national nominee? I'm actually not sure about that, but just imagine the chaos! Some states would vote Democrat for John Edwards, while others vote for the national nominee, Hillary Clinton. Do the electors simply refuse to vote for Clinton and throw the nomination to the Republican? I don't know, but that's quite a can of worms, isn't it?

[tyedyeto]

9. They haven't?

What about Florida? When the STATE decided to change their primary date, the Democratic Party said (paraphrasing) "OK, but your delegate votes won't count because the primary is before New Hampshire primary and Iowa Caucus" If that's not the party telling the state what to do, then what is it?

[Kagemusha]

10. Did the date change? No. Did the party compel the state to act? No.

So how can you call it dictating when speech does not translate into action?

What about this is hard to understand? The parties cannot force Florida to hold their vote on a particular date, or after a particular date. The state of Florida cannot force the parties to accept their delegates' votes.

[Coexist]

11. No - that is not entirely correct. Florida had the opportunity to apply for early primary

and didnt'.

The DNC tried to work the the FDP and the FDP just charged ahead, never DREAMING that the DNC would even THINK of trying to stop them.

You choose to dance - you pay the piper.

[tyedyeto]

12. Why should they have to 'apply' for any paritcular date?

It's up to the state to determine that and ALL delegate votes from that state should be counted no matter when the vote is held. Again, the political parties are dictating to the states when to hold their primaries when the Constitution states that it is up to the individual states when to set voting dates.

[Kagemusha]

13. The vote? Yes, when the vote for President is held, all votes count.

This is a nomination vote for a political party. You think that state governments should be free to dictate how political parties elect their leaders. Great. It's not legal in the US, but great. You have every right to your opinion.

I'm not even trying to argue you're wrong to WANT that - I'm just saying what the situation is right now, this minute, and why that is so. (It is so because of the system put in place at the founding of the country.)