Why We Need Preferential Primaries
Voters Are More Informed
In primaries that use ranked choice voting, voters are given the opportunity to rank all of the candidates on their ballots. Most voters take the time to learn more about each candidate and where they stand on the issues. This leads to a more informed electorate – exactly what our Founding Fathers envisioned.
According to a 2022 poll comparing Republican primary voters in a preferential primary and a plurality primary, the nominee from the preferential contest had 94% name recognition compared to 77% for the nominee in the plurality contest.
It Makes A Path For Underfunded Candidates
Voters are invited to learn about every candidate on their ballot in a preferential voting primary, which gives candidates without major funding and resources a chance to earn support from voters beyond expensive TV advertising, mail, and robocalls.
In the 2021 Virginia Republican nomination contest, now-Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears defeated a better-funded rival to become the first Black woman to be elected statewide in Virginia.
Conservatives Can Vote Their Conscience
Using preferential voting in primaries gives conservatives the freedom to vote their conscience without having to worry about “splitting the vote” or other tactical concerns. That means Republicans can vote for the candidate or candidates they prefer.
Furthermore, it means that all candidates in the race must also reach out to conservatives and earn their support. Conservatives are never forced to rank or support a candidate they do not want. Preferential voting in primaries is the implementation of the “Buckley Standard” for the Republican Party – nominating the most conservative candidate who can win.
It Eliminates The Role Of Spoilers
Voters are free from worry about spoiler candidates who alter the outcome of an election by winning just a small percentage of the vote. Preferential voting in primaries ensures that the party’s nominee earns at least a simple majority (50%+1) of the vote.
Candidates who might otherwise be pressured to drop out of a race to avoid the “spoiler” effect are free to compete and have their ideas heard, but if they fail to earn enough first choice preferences, their supporters’ second-choices are considered.
It Gives Overseas Military Voters More Say
Republican primary voters serving our country overseas in the Armed Forces must submit their ballots long before Election Day in order to ensure they are counted. This often means candidates they support drop out after their ballots are cast, or new information comes to light that affects the chances of their top choice.
Giving military voters the ability to rank their choices is the best solution for ensuring our hardworking heroes have a say in the process.
Positive Campaigning Is Rewarded
In a typical plurality primary contest, the only way for a candidate to expand their vote share is to take votes away from an opponent. This means negative campaigning against fellow conservatives – often with an impact lasting into the general election.
Instead, with preferential voting primaries, candidates are rewarded for positive campaigning because the best way to expand their vote share is by earning the support of their opponents’ voters.
The Party Is United Behind The Nominee
Because the primary is more focused on areas of agreement and policy discussions than on personal attacks, the party emerges more united behind the winner. Most voters will see one of their top choices selected, boosting their enthusiasm.
This shared “ownership” in the primary process makes for a more united party, and the nominee is the key beneficiary.
It Avoids Expensive Runoffs
In states where runoff elections are used to resolve primaries without a majority winner, preferential voting primaries – sometimes called instant runoffs – would save donor contributions, volunteer hours, and taxpayer dollars.
Donors will have more funds for the general election to possibly support other Republican candidates in more competitive seats. Volunteers avoid being burnt out and emerge fresh for the general election.
It Nominates More Electable Candidates
In a preferential primary, candidates must unite the party to win and the winner will always emerge with a majority of the primary electorate having voted for them. Even when the winner was a voter’s second or third choice, the voter moves forward from the nomination process as part of the winning team.
This “head start” is invaluable to candidates in competitive seats who might otherwise spend limited time and resources undoing the damage of negative primary campaigns.
It Prevents Unelectable Candidates From Winning
In a plurality nomination contest, otherwise electable candidates can be either rendered unelectable in a general election or lose out to a more polarizing candidate. When candidates aren’t required to earn majority support to win, they only need to appeal to a small fraction of the primary electorate.
While this strategy can be effective in the short term for winning a nomination, the general election electorate is markedly different. We don’t want the nominee to stake out positions in the primary that are unpalatable to general election voters.