I realize that various talking heads, politicans, and geeks with too much time on their hands have proposed this concept before, but after evaluating the silliness of this primary season, it seems that talk of primary reform is resurfacing. Seen at CNN’s Political Ticker blog:
In a speech on the floor of the Florida State Senate Thursday morning, Nelson said he will formally introduce legislation that will attempt to fix many of the problems exposed by this cycle’s round of presidential primaries, adding the “time for reform is now.”[...]
Specifically, Nelson said he will propose six rotating interregional primaries that “will give large and small states a fair say in the nomination process.” The regional primaries would be conducted on dates ranging from March to June, Nelson also said, taking the place of the current early-voting states Iowa and New Hampshire — states which critics have long argued are not representative of the American electorate. The dates would initially be set by a lottery system for the 2012 election and would rotate positions in successive elections.
Nelson called for early voting in every state and the elimination of voting machines that do not produce a paper trail. The Florida Democrat also said all citizens should be allowed to vote absentee if they so choose, and is pushing for a federal grant incentive program to help develop voting by mail and via the Internet.
Nelson will also formally seek award the presidency based on the popular vote result, instead of via the Electoral College – a reform that will require a stand-alone bill since it would require an amendment to he Constitution.
I’m not holding my breath, as I do not underestimate Congress’ ability to kill any good idea in a stew of politicking, but it’d be nice to see leaders start to seriously consider such an idea. Planning and deal-making needs to begin now, if reform is to be in place by 2012. After all, at the rate that we’re going, the 2012 campaign will begin in November of this year.