Proposition 121 to Strip Political Parties of Special Privileges
By Gary Woodard on October 30, 2012 in Arizona, open primaries, partisanship, Proposition 121 with 7 CommentsRead Time: 3 - 4 minutes
What to do when something you regularly buy declines in quality? In Exit, Voice and Loyalty, economist Albert Hirschman posited that disappointed customers have two options – take their business elsewhere (exit) or complain to management (voice). The choice they make depends largely on the degree of loyalty they feel towards the provider of the goods or services.
Voters sensing that the quality of their political party’s candidates has deteriorated may exit by switching parties; those feeling greater party loyalty may choose the voice option, becoming more involved and possibly challenging party leaders. But voters in Arizona and across the U.S. have been defying conventional theories and taking a third path. Proposition 121, the “Top Two” primary initiative, seeks to validate and empower these voters.
Surveys show unprecedented levels of distrust and even disgust with Congress, state legislatures, and politics in general. A chief complaint is partisan gridlock, which suggests stark differences between the two major parties. Yet, many claim there are few real difference between Democrats and Republicans. What they’re rejecting isn’t one party or the other – it’s the current two-party system.
To gauge the level of voter discontent, consider this: joining a party costs nothing, parties energetically recruit new members, and party loyalties traditionally ran through generations. Yet voters today are declaring their independence by changing their party preference to Independent. Party membership has deteriorated to the point where they can’t give it away for free.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Arizona, where the percentage of voters registered as independent has soared in recent years, passing registered Democrats and on track to pass Republicans early next year (see graph). This wholesale desertion of the two main parties is occurring despite the lack of any organized effort to increase the ranks of Independents.
Polls show even greater percentages are self-identifying as independent, suggesting that many voters have emotionally exited their parties, even if they have yet to formally change their registration. Ironically, this exodus has left party loyalists to dominate partisan primaries, eschewing moderates for more “ideologically pure” candidates who, when elected, intensify the gridlock. This behavior alienates more voters, and the feedback loop is complete.
Backers of Prop. 121 want to break the cycle of partisanship by stripping parties of their special status and privileges and opening primaries to all voters. A system under which candidates must seek the support of all those whom they want to represent doesn’t sound like such a revolutionary idea. But maybe it is.
Trends in Arizona Voter Registration:
1946 through 2012
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7 Comments
Chad Peace
10.30.2012
@Chad_Peace
Oh the irony of the ads attacking proposition 121! Taking away the partisan control of primaries is a massive blow to the stranglehold of institutional power in politics. It allows them to divy up the districts between “red and blue” teams, then they battle it out for the remaining seats. Under the new system, the red and blue teams could face challenge at any seat for any race. This would significantly diminish the ability to target institutional resources and be as effective as they are today.
Michael Higham
10.30.2012
@michaelhigham
Wow, independent registration skyrocketed in the 2000′s. Now there’s even more registered independents than Democrats! By next election cycle, we could see independent as the leading voter registration. Prop 121 would satisfy many of those independent voters and Dems/Reps who are always stuck with the same candidate that doesn’t resonate with them.
Alex Gauthier
10.30.2012
@alexg
Arizona used to be 80% democratic. i can’t imagine what that was like
Ted Downing
10.30.2012
@downing
The Democrats dominated in the rural areas. A very different breed than today’s Dems.
Ted Downing
10.30.2012
@downing
I have showed rate of disaffliation of voters from both parties to Arizona voters. Cognitive dissonance is great. Someone look at the graph and say “that’s your opinion.” Woodard’s point is well taken. If enough “exit” our government is not representative.
George Ostendorf
10.31.2012
@tex78628
I can see where the “Top Two” would definitely benefit independent and third party candidates, but like wise I can see a situation where there are only to Democrats or Republicans on the ballot depending on the composition of the states electorate. Imagine, a storm where the top two were the likes of Romney or Santorum or Bachman or Paul as the only candidates on a ballot. The single biggest issue of this is the extreme points both sides have taken, leaving no room at the table for moderates.
Ian Dawes
10.31.2012
@iandawes
Interesting to note that Democratic registration has consistently declined over the last 65 years in Arizona. Now Independent registration exceeds dems.