Primaries crucial to democratic process

In light of tight economic times and perceived lack of influence or participation by voters,… In light of tight economic times and perceived lack of influence or participation by voters, some states are eliminating presidential primaries, or considering doing so.

Primary elections work in different ways in different states. All primaries essentially telegraph the wishes of those who vote in them to state party delegates, who then nominate that state’s choice of party candidate. After all the states’ votes are in, each party holds a national nominating convention to finalize their choice of candidate. States that are dropping or are considering dropping primaries are, for the most part, going to replace primaries with a caucus system that is already in use by some states – where the parties themselves directly nominate the delegates for the convention, circumventing input from Joe Democrat or Jane Republican.

Republican-dominated legislatures in Colorado, Kansas and Utah have already scrapped the primaries in favor of party caucuses. In light of the current political landscape, this is especially chilling.

President George W. Bush has no opposition for the GOP nomination. Eliminating primaries in Republican states utterly ensures that Bush will get the nomination, effectively quashing any possible alternates to him on the Republican ticket. While the chance of him being dislodged is slim, eliminating such a chance is hardly fair.

The Democratic ticket, on the other hand, is stuffed with potential candidates. With such a wide variety of personalities and agendas to choose from, it’s important to hear the greatest possible number of voices; otherwise the party ignores constituents in what will be a close race. If, as in this case, every single vote truly counts, discounting votes from even one state is unacceptable.

States are complaining, and rightly so, that voters are apathetic. Primaries typically draw less than 20 percent of eligible voters. However, eliminating primary elections will serve to reinforce the complaint of the silent majority – that their votes don’t count anyway. Eliminating primary elections serves as concrete proof to such citizens that, truly, their opinions do not matter, which will further discourage their participation in the democratic process.

Primary elections are too important to be scrapped. The entire nation is in financial trouble, and it’s a sad fact. But for a nation that prides itself on democracy and an enfranchised citizenry, eliminating these elections would be nothing short of pathetic and shameful.