Vote NO on Proposition 14 this Tuesday- Joint statement by the Presidents of Cal Berkeley Democrats, Berkeley College Republicans, and Berkeley Students for Liberty
Though we have our differences, we all agree on one thing—on Tuesday, Californians should vote NO on Proposition 14.
Proposition 14 was placed on the ballot as the result of a backroom deal. If passed, it would replace our current election system with a so-called “open primary”. All candidates for an office, regardless of party, would appear on a single ballot. The top two vote getters would then advance to a second round, with the victor winning the election. This system would only make our elections more expensive and chaotic, and reduce Californians’ freedom to choose.
- Proposition 14 would limit voter choice. In the second round of voting, Californians would only have two choices. They would not be able to select other preferred candidates, and third parties would be excluded.
- Proposition 14 would help extremists. If mainstream candidates split up the vote, only fringe candidates may reach the second round. For example, in Louisiana’s 1991 gubernatorial election, Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke advanced to the runoff.
- Proposition 14 would make elections more expensive. Candidates would have to wage two campaigns before the entire electorate, requiring more resources and increasing the influence of money in politics.
- Proposition 14 has failed in practice. Louisiana is the only state which used open primaries for regular elections. However, they completely failed to decrease partisanship. In 2008, Louisiana returned to normal primaries for Congressional elections.
Opponents of Proposition 14 form a broad, ideologically diverse coalition, including the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, the Green Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, the American Independent Party, and the Libertarian Party.
While we rarely agree, we all urge you to vote NO on Proposition 14 this Tuesday. It would impose a misguided system on California, and do great harm to our electoral process.
Daniel Osborn, President, Cal Berkeley Democrats
Robert Burgren, President, Berkeley College Republicans
Casey Given, President, Berkeley Students for Liberty
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Additional Quotes:
“”Running a campaign in California already costs more money than in any other state. If we believe that elections should be won and not bought, then we need to vote no on Prop 14 to ensure that politics in California doesn’t become an exclusive money game.”
Daniel Osborn, President, Cal Berkeley Democrats
“Proposition 14 would limit debate. Prop 14 will threaten primary voters with the prospect of divided parties, forcing them to coalesce around establishment candidates with the most money and influence rather than having the freedom to support the candidate they truly agree with.”
Robert Burgren, President, Berkeley College Republicans
“Proposition 14 is bad for California because it restricts freedom. Instead of allowing candidates from all political parties and ideologies across the spectrum to run in a general election, it reduces the voter’s choice to the two candidates with the most money and influence.”
Casey Given, President, Berkeley Students for Liberty