Strengths and Weaknesses of US Primary Process

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  • Created by: Isteww
  • Created on: 19-05-17 10:02

Strengths and Weaknesses of US Primary Process

Advantages

  • there is an increased level of participation by ordinary voters. In 1968 last year of the unreformed system, only 11.7 million Americans took part in the nomination process (11% of the voting age population) by 1988 that was 35 million (21%)
  • significant increase in choice of candidates. In 1968 there were just 5 presidential candidates to choose from (3 D 2 R). In 2008 15 (8D 7R)
  • The process opened up to outsiders, enabling politicians who do not initially have a national reputation to make a serious challenge for the nomination e.g. Bill Clinton 1992
  • gruelling race- tests whether they are capable
  • Candidates emerge from a variety of backgrounds and experiences not just those who served long party apprenticeships e.g. Trump- this gives more pluralism, diversity, different experience
  • Primaries give more weight to individual candidates and issues than caucuses do- greater focus on the important factors

Disadvantages

  • quality of participation- primary voters often know very little about the many candidates listed on the ballot
  • widespread voter apathy and boredom- 36 million people who voted in the presidential primaries and caucuses in 2000 represented just 15% of voting age population
  • Earlier scheduling of primaries gives some states disproportionate influence compared to others- an increasing number like to schedule their primary early in the election year believing that the earlier primaries have more influence over candidate selection- Front Loading- WHY? 1. boosts economy of state media attention 2. all candidates will go to these states because early indication of how candidate will perform
  • favour candidates with money and media profile- primaries more expensive than caucuses
  • additional layer of elections
  • Early scheduling gives candidates who did well in the invisible primary an advantage

Evaluation

I believe Primaries are essentially weakness, largely because they can be confusing esp. as citizens have to vote for a delegate, they are another layer to the election process and therefore are likely to create greater apathetic feeling, reducing the likelihood of legitimate govt.

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