I have been working to wrest campaigns and elections from big money and elite political bosses my whole organizing career, which (geezer alert) began in 1984. One of the most significant victories was overcoming the opposition from political bosses of both parties to pass state campaign finance reform in 1997, which was first introduced by Senators Sue Wagner (R) and Spike Wilson (D) in 1975. For the first time, candidates had to reveal the names of contributors giving more than $100 to their campaign, and political parties and caucuses, which had been hotbeds for secret money, had to reveal their contributors.
The election process outlined in Question 3 offers voters our biggest chance to shake up the business-as-usual political system since that reform passed almost 30 years ago.
Passage of Question 3 would enfranchise more than 825,000 nonpartisans currently excluded from the primary process. It would mean a system in which campaign ads told us what a candidate would do once elected, instead of trashing their opponents. We would vote our conscience without having regrets or holding our noses. Voters, not party leaders or elites, would determine which candidates are viable and deserve our vote.
If this happened, we could have a Nevada legislature where our representatives could concentrate on solving problems instead of having to worry if what they say or what they do would be held against them by party leaders. Our elected officials would be able to collaborate with other members regardless of party without fear of being primaried or other reprisals.
This could usher in an era where the well-being of all people living in our communities took precedence over raw political party power.
Question 3 allows for nonpartisan open primary elections. All candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party and all voters get to vote for the one candidate they believe is best (this is exactly how the primary for city councils and school districts is conducted now). It has been proven that being forced to speak to a wider diverse group of voters results in more issue-oriented campaigns and less negativity.
Out of the primary, five candidates move to the general election ballot (unless there were less than 5 to begin with) again regardless of party. Voters may rank one, five, or any number in between. A candidate needs a majority of first choice votes or a majority of votes counted in any instant run-off round to win. They can assume office with a true mandate. In exit polls in more than 50 political jurisdictions where a form of this process is used, over 80% of voters say they find it easy and preferable.
Both the Nevada Democratic and Republican Party bosses detest Question 3 because it gives the voters ultimate control over candidates and potentially the legislative agenda rather than the political parties, their monied interests and the party power brokers.
Don’t let the myths and misinformation distract you. It’s time for Nevada voters to shake up a dysfunctional system and reclaim our power from monied and partisan elites.
