Democratic Nomination 2012: Proposal
PROPOSAL FOR DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION 2012
1. Until December of the year before election year: Early campaigning, fundraising, debates
As before, all candidate declare their intentions, do fundraising as usual, and so on. Their focus is on wooing the superdelegates and stacking the polls, in anticipation of the convention. Candidates also agree not to raise funds for the general election — for primaries only. All general election donations must be made to the DNC at this point.
2. December Convention:
a.) Last debate of all candidates
b.) Candidates make closing 1-hour speeches
c.) Existing superdelegates publicly vote to narrow down candidates to 4 using approval voting, marking all that they are willing to support as the nominee.
d.) The top 4 candidates debate
e.) Existing superdelegates publicly vote to narrow down candidates to 2 using approval voting, marking all that they are willing to support as the nominee.
Superdelegate votes do NOT carry over.
3. VP agreement due
Both candidates declare their willingness to be on each other's ticket by December 31. This is not an agreement to choose each other. It is just an agreement to be willing to be chosen. This agreement is binding and irreversible.
4. January 1 - June 15: Biweekly Debates and Primaries
DNC selects debate sites and formats before January 1 with the option to cancel them. Timetable for voting is completely up to the states. Only rule: Election year. Note that the process below makes late-voting states important — there is little incentive to move up the primary!
5. Ballot format.
In each state, the ballot shows four and only four options:
Each state is awarded 1 point for each 100,000 residents based on population of the state according to the last census. The U.S. population is about 3,050,000 now, so there will be roughly 3,050 points available. The nominee is the candidate with the most points.
7. Point Allocation in each state:
Candidates earn points based in proportion to the electorate. For example, Massachusetts has 6,349,000 people, worth 63 points. Here are hypothetical results:
Preplanned celebration event organized by the DNC in which the loser endorses the winner. If s/he refuses, the event is canceled.
9. August Convention.
VP nominee due 1 week before convention. No votes for president needed since the delegates will have already done their thing. Only the VP vote is cast. Other typical convention events.
10. Withdrawal Clause
In the event that a candidate withdraws during the primary process, superdelegates will vote at the convention to confirm the remaining candidate. If a 2/3 majority is not reached, a new round of approval voting takes place, with the highest vote getter becoming the nominee.
What do you think? Serious discussion only. Please be to-the-point, referring to steps/clauses by number for clarity.
1. Until December of the year before election year: Early campaigning, fundraising, debates
As before, all candidate declare their intentions, do fundraising as usual, and so on. Their focus is on wooing the superdelegates and stacking the polls, in anticipation of the convention. Candidates also agree not to raise funds for the general election — for primaries only. All general election donations must be made to the DNC at this point.
2. December Convention:
a.) Last debate of all candidates
b.) Candidates make closing 1-hour speeches
c.) Existing superdelegates publicly vote to narrow down candidates to 4 using approval voting, marking all that they are willing to support as the nominee.
d.) The top 4 candidates debate
e.) Existing superdelegates publicly vote to narrow down candidates to 2 using approval voting, marking all that they are willing to support as the nominee.
Superdelegate votes do NOT carry over.
3. VP agreement due
Both candidates declare their willingness to be on each other's ticket by December 31. This is not an agreement to choose each other. It is just an agreement to be willing to be chosen. This agreement is binding and irreversible.
4. January 1 - June 15: Biweekly Debates and Primaries
DNC selects debate sites and formats before January 1 with the option to cancel them. Timetable for voting is completely up to the states. Only rule: Election year. Note that the process below makes late-voting states important — there is little incentive to move up the primary!
5. Ballot format.
In each state, the ballot shows four and only four options:
Choose 1 option below:6. Points for each state:
• No Preference between A and B
• Candidate A
• Candidate B
• Write-in ___________
Each state is awarded 1 point for each 100,000 residents based on population of the state according to the last census. The U.S. population is about 3,050,000 now, so there will be roughly 3,050 points available. The nominee is the candidate with the most points.
7. Point Allocation in each state:
Candidates earn points based in proportion to the electorate. For example, Massachusetts has 6,349,000 people, worth 63 points. Here are hypothetical results:
50% No Preference = 16 points each8. Party Unity Day: 7 days after final primary.
30% Candidate A = 19 more points
15% Candidate B = 09 more points
0.4% Blank = 0 points
4.6% Write-in = 3 points
Note: Rounding may cause the total points to be between 61 and 65. That's fine.
Preplanned celebration event organized by the DNC in which the loser endorses the winner. If s/he refuses, the event is canceled.
9. August Convention.
VP nominee due 1 week before convention. No votes for president needed since the delegates will have already done their thing. Only the VP vote is cast. Other typical convention events.
10. Withdrawal Clause
In the event that a candidate withdraws during the primary process, superdelegates will vote at the convention to confirm the remaining candidate. If a 2/3 majority is not reached, a new round of approval voting takes place, with the highest vote getter becoming the nominee.
What do you think? Serious discussion only. Please be to-the-point, referring to steps/clauses by number for clarity.
