◼ If California’s new top-two primary-election system seems confusing or is giving you pause while preparing to cast your vote – by mail or at the polls June 5 – don’t worry, you are not alone. - Orange County Register
Many political candidates, elected office holders and their consultants are equally confused, unsure about how the new process will shake up elective offices in the Golden State....
The top-two primary system was adopted by voters in 2010 as Proposition 14, California’s Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, which sought to reform the California Legislature by reducing extreme partisanship, giving the electorate, in its entirety, the power to vote in the primary for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation.
(It’s important to remember that the top-two format does not apply to presidential elections, local elected offices, such as city councils, nor to elections for offices within a political party, such as seat on a central committee.)
Basically under the new system, primary elections become almost as important as the general election because the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November, regardless of their political party affiliation. Just two. That’s it.
Political parties, in this process, become less important, meaning that some legislative districts in California this November very well could see two members of the same party facing off against each other.
