Getting Ready for the Open Primary

One of the biggest differences you may notice is that the list of candidates to choose from is a lot longer.  It'll include every party's candidate.  The reason for the change was to promote freedom of choice, but no one really knows what impact the open primary will have.

The swath of colors on Brandi Orth's desk are the official ballots for the June primary election.   This year there's a big change.  Any party-member can vote for any candidate.

“All the candidates, regardless of party, are going to be on everyone's ballot,” said Orth, Fresno County Elections Clerk.

For some races, the list of candidates is long.  The are 24 people running for U.S. Senator.  The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, move on to the general election.  It could even be two candidates from the same party.  The only race where you must stick to your party is for president.

“This is a big new experiment we're trying here,” said Thomas Holyoke, political science professor at Fresno State. 

California voters passed the Open Primary Act in 2010.  It could lessen the influence of political parties and put the burden of information back on voters.

“The idea is this might produce more centrist politicians in Sacramento, and maybe in Washington D.C. too.  Now will it really do that?  No one really knows,” said Holyoke.

With only 47 days until the primary, Orth and her team are finalizing election-day details.  It costs about $2.1 million to run an election in Fresno County.  This time around the number of polling places has more than doubled.  There will be 263 around the county.

The last day to register to vote is May 21st.  Precinct officials are needed.  For more information, click on the “related link.”