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The presidential primary season began Jan. 8 and will carry through to June 3. Americans across the land have shown unprecedented interest in this process as Democrats and Republicans choose their candidates for the presidency. In state after state, voter turnout has been at record levels.
But not in Minnesota, at least not in the same way. Minnesota remains a caucus state without a primary. The two major parties take presidential preference polls at the caucuses. The Republican vote is non-binding on delegates to the national convention; the DFL vote is binding on national convention delegates on the first ballot. The DFL requires that the Minnesota delegation to the national convention vote for the candidates proportionally so as to reflect the caucus poll results.
Regardless, the straw ballot is taken at the precinct caucus. In order to participate, one needs to go to the caucus. One doesn’t have to stay at the caucus after voting, and this year many people didn’t. They wanted to cast their vote and leave.
Reflecting the increased interest in the nominating process, turnout at Minnesota’s caucuses was up this year. Still, even more interest would have been generated in the process if the state had held a full-blown presidential primary.
Our recommendation would be to hold the primary on the same day as the precinct caucus. Keep the polls open until 8 p.m., and then begin the caucus while the judges are counting the ballots.
It is important to understand that both the primary and the caucus are important to the process. A presidential primary is the most widespread way for the electorate to make its collective opinion known. It will encourage participation at all levels in the political process.
At the same time, caucuses are fundamental to the organization of the political parties. From the caucus, delegates are elected to the county and legislative district conventions that endorse legislative candidates, and they also select delegates to the congressional district and statewide conventions where congressional and state office candidates are endorsed.
Caucus goers become the party leaders who conduct the parties’ business behind the scenes, organize support for their candidates in the fall election and provide the valuable grassroots input that the parties need to succeed.
By holding the caucuses immediately after the polls close, it encourages voters to stay and participate more fully in the process.
This year, Minnesota moved up its caucus date to the so-called “Super Tuesday,” Feb. 5. That date, fully nine months before the election, is too early for all but the presidential candidates to be chosen. Therefore, Minnesota should keep its traditional primary election on the second Tuesday in September to serve as a safety valve on the parties’ endorsements of candidates for all other offices.
But if a primary is needed for every other office, then it should also be required for the most important office in the land, the presidency. Minnesota should add a presidential primary to its political calendar.
This editorial is a product of the editorial board of ECM Publishers, Inc., the parent company of ECM Post Review.
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