Team Publius

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Team Publius

• Grove City College

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Purpose of the nomination process

• To produce the strongest nominee from each
  political party that most closely embodies the
  ideals of that party

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Major Changes - Unwise

• The current system has a proven track record of
  providing suitable, nationally viable candidates
• The current system can produce strong voter
  turnout and interest in the political process

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Voter Turnout in 2008

• The Center for the Study of the American
  Electorate says that about half the states that
  have held contests have seen record voter turnout
• The Associated Press reports that twenty-three
  contests have broken the previous record in their
  contest for eligible voter turnout
• The Center for Information and Research on Civic
  Learning and Engagement says that in every state
  holding a Super Tuesday contest, youth voter
  turnout doubled the turnout experienced in 2004.
  In some cases, it tripled or quadrupled.

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Major Changes Politically Unviable

• We have a nation of many states with many
  different contests. In order to effect reform in
  a federal system, we would have to change many
  states election laws.
• States have strong interests at stake, and they
  will always jockey to have more influence.

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How can we make it better?

• Demonstrate democracy better
• Encourage states to hold at least semi-open
  primaries
• Discourage unrepresentative contests
• Streamline the calendar

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The Case for Semi-Open Primaries

• Independent voters should be able to participate
  in nominating presidential candidates
• Eighteen states hold closed contests, alienating
  the younger generation that sees itself as
  independent and hesitates to align itself with
  a political party
• In order to get people out to vote, they have to
  be allowed to vote

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Younger Voters More Independent
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So

• Parties should penalize states that hold closed
  presidential primaries
• This system creates a political process that is
  inclusive of a larger number of voters
  including youth voters without unduly burdening
  the major parties

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Making Every Vote Count

• States which hold primaries in which delegates
  are not required to vote in accordance with voter
  preference hold unrepresentative contests
• Parties should be permitted to represent their
  own interests by designating party leaders and
  elected officials as superdelegates
• Parties will, at their discretion, withhold
  delegates from those states that hold
  fundamentally unrepresentative contests.

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Streamlining the Calendar

• Parties hold primaries or caucuses only in
  February, March, and April
• New Hampshire and Iowa will be permitted to
  maintain their first-in-the-nation status
• Parties will incentivize this through the
  allocation of delegates
• Holding the contests only within this abbreviated
  time frame generates voter enthusiasm

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Summary

• Eliminate closed primaries
• Eliminate unrepresentative contests
• Eliminate the drawn-out, front-loaded calendar

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Team Publius

• Grove City College
• Jared Walczak, Anthony Maneiro, Daniel Hanson,
  Caleb Weitz, and Michael Coulter (advisor)