Open primaries, closed elections? Third party death.

• Author: Doherty, Brian
• Position: Citings - Brief article

IN JUNE, California voters passed Proposition 14, a measure that will dramatically reduce the chances that third parties will be represented on future ballots. Under the new system, California will have nonpartisan primary elections, although candidates can opt to list a party identification. The top two vote-getters, of whatever party, will be the only choices listed on the November general election ballot. Write-ins won't be counted.

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Major and minor political parties alike opposed Prop. 14, but the proposal's supporters outspent them, by around $4.8 million to less than $300,000. The pro-14 money came largely from the health care industry, tech companies, and the state Chamber of Commerce. Christina Tobin, who ran the anti-14 campaign "Stop Top Two," believes that moneyed interests want to create a narrow political world in which "moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats become one brand" easily amenable to corporate influence.

It is highly unlikely that any...