Broken Politics, Drastic Fix

Sponsors of Proposition 62 say their open-primary measure would create more competitive elections in California and make it easier for moderates to win office. There’s no guarantee of that, but Proposition 62 would surely be better than the existing polarized system. For that reason, The Times recommends that Californians vote for the reform on the Nov. 2 ballot. They should reject its opposite, Proposition 60.

State lawmakers brought this on themselves. After the 2000 census they drew tortured lines to keep the incumbent party in power, be it Democrat or Republican. The winner of the dominant party’s primary wins the office, so there is no need for moderation to woo a few votes from the opposite side.

Proposition 62 would restructure the state primary election to resemble Louisiana’s. All candidates for each partisan office except U.S. president, vice president and the party committees would appear on one ballot, which would go to every voter. The two largest vote-getters would face off in the November election, even if both were Democrats or both Republicans.

California adopted a similar system for the 1998 and 2000 elections, except the top vote-getter in each party went on the November ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court voided the popular “blanket primary,” saying it denied party members the right to select their own candidates. Despite its backers’ assurances, Proposition 62 too could be decided in court.

It is true that in a few districts Republicans might have no Republican to vote for in the general election. But they could support a moderate Democrat who’s a potential winner with the crossover vote. The same in reverse for Democrats. Minor-party candidates would, it is true, rarely get enough votes to appear in November.

The better way to end the polarization would be fairer, more competitive legislative districts drawn by a nonpartisan commission. The districts of the 1990s were crafted by a special master appointed by the state Supreme Court, after the court struck down the Legislature’s partisan plan. More moderates were elected and the Legislature was better able to govern.

An initiative campaign is expected in 2006 to propose an independent commission to draw election districts. Even if it qualifies for the ballot and passes, it may not go into effect until 2011. That’s too long to wait.

Proposition 60, which would lock the present primary system into the state Constitution, was cynically drawn by Democratic and Republican party leaders to counter Proposition 62. It deserves rejection. Yes on 62. No on 60.