Michigan moved its presidential primaries to the fourth week of February. Going earlier in the nominating cycle should, in theory, give state residents more viable choices and a greater focus from candidates.
But that hasn’t been the case in 2024. The Republican race is essentially down to Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, while President Joe Biden’s biggest primary challenge comes from Democrats who say they’ll vote uncommitted.
Presidential primary season gives voters a chance to nominate party candidates ahead of November’s general election. Melinda Billingsley, a member of the voting advocacy group Voters Not Politicians, says primaries are a way to bring the voting process to the people “and allow for greater participation among the electorate, which is better for democracy.”
Today there are many different methods utilized by individual states.
Some, like Florida and Pennsylvania, hold closed primaries — where only party registered voters can participate — leaving independent voters on the sidelines. Michigan is one of several states that hold open primaries — allowing anyone to vote on a party’s ticket.
Another method is holding a caucus, where party supporters meet in person to appoint delegates. Billingsley isn’t a fan of the caucus system.
“You have to be at a place at a certain time, you have to stay there for hours and that just is really exclusionary,” Billingsley explains. “And of course, democracy works better the more people are able to participate.”
If Billingsley could make a chance to the primaries process, she would be require all states to use the open primary system — just like Michigan.
“Which is important because it means every voter in Michigan has the opportunity to weigh-in on the candidates,” she said.
But when it comes to having a choice of candidates, Billingsley does not think voters should feel unrepresented by a lack of options.
“One thing to remember is that when we look at that primary ballot, there are always choices on it.”
There are seven Republican and three Democratic names printed on Michigan’s February ballot. Even though many of the candidates have dropped out of the race, voters can still select them.
“When those results are released, everyone will be able to see this particular person, for whatever they stood for, got the votes. There was support behind it,” Billingsley said.
Billingsley says voting for someone you believe in is never meaningless — even if that candidate’s viability was left in the Iowa cold.
This story was originally published by WDET. Read more here: https://wdet.org/2024/02/26/does-the-presidential-primary-system-reflect-the-will-of-the-voters/
