If you were in charge of a State GOP, what sort of primary system is best?

[Oldiesfreak1854]

1. I don't have much preference between a primary or a caucus; I could live with either one.  The one thing I will say is that primaries seem to work better and easier than caucuses.  I would prefer a semi-closed primary where Independents can vote, but if my state was open primary (which my RL state is), then I would not try to challenge it. 

2. I would probably choose a system with a slate of winner-take-all delegates, plus a slate of proportional delegates allocated by congressional or legislative districts.

3. The threshold for viability would probably be 10 or 20 percent, 25 at the most.

4. I would probably provide for a small number of superdelegates/unpledged delegates.

5. I would want to have it early in the schedule, after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, and possibly after Florida.  Super Tuesday would be the latest.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

1. I don't have much preference between a primary or a caucus; I could live with either one.  The one thing I will say is that primaries seem to work better and easier than caucuses.  I would prefer a semi-closed primary where Independents can vote, but if my state was open primary (which my RL state is), then I would not try to challenge it. 

2. I would probably choose a system with a slate of winner-take-all delegates, plus a slate of proportional delegates allocated by congressional or legislative districts.

3. The threshold for viability would probably be 10 or 20 percent, 25 at the most.

4. I would probably provide for a small number of superdelegates/unpledged delegates.

5. I would want to have it early in the schedule, after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, and possibly after Florida.  Super Tuesday would be the latest.

What is a semi-closed primary and how does it work? I'm guessing that independents would be able to vote in partisan primary. But how far back can a person have voted in a different party's primary and be independent?

If it's just about registration and declaring oneself independent, how long before the primary is the deadline to declare? One issue with the presidential primaries is that each week may have candidates drop out. When that happens, partisans for a dropped out candidate may dislike the remaining leader and want to be independent when their state holds its primary.

A semi-closed primary is where voters register with a party and can only vote in that party's primary.  However, Independents can vote in whatever primary they choose.  The news media refers to this as an "open primary," which is incorrect.  Many states automatically register Independents with the party they choose, which I oppose.

As for a deadline to change registration, I'd say that 30 days is sufficient.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

1. I don't have much preference between a primary or a caucus; I could live with either one.  The one thing I will say is that primaries seem to work better and easier than caucuses.  I would prefer a semi-closed primary where Independents can vote, but if my state was open primary (which my RL state is), then I would not try to challenge it.  

2. I would probably choose a system with a slate of winner-take-all delegates, plus a slate of proportional delegates allocated by congressional or legislative districts.

3. The threshold for viability would probably be 10 or 20 percent, 25 at the most.

4. I would probably provide for a small number of superdelegates/unpledged delegates.

5. I would want to have it early in the schedule, after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, and possibly after Florida.  Super Tuesday would be the latest.

What is a semi-closed primary and how does it work? I'm guessing that independents would be able to vote in partisan primary. But how far back can a person have voted in a different party's primary and be independent?

If it's just about registration and declaring oneself independent, how long before the primary is the deadline to declare? One issue with the presidential primaries is that each week may have candidates drop out. When that happens, partisans for a dropped out candidate may dislike the remaining leader and want to be independent when their state holds its primary.

A semi-closed primary is where voters register with a party and can only vote in that party's primary.  However, Independents can vote in whatever primary they choose.  The news media refers to this as an "open primary," which is incorrect.  Many states automatically register Independents with the party they choose, which I oppose.

As for a deadline to change registration, I'd say that 30 days is sufficient.

So let me see if I understand your idea.

A person registered with a party as of 30 days before a primary may only vote in that party's primary.

A person may unregister from a party any time more than 30 days before a primary and become an independent.

An independent may choose the primary ballot for any party and remain an independent.

If that's correct, what advantage would there be for anyone who is not a party official to register with a party?

I don't know, but IRL, a lot of people are registered with a party in those states.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I like CA's jungle primary myself.

Top two primaries are unfair, undemocratic, and unconstitutional because they unfairly limit voters' choices and discriminate against political minorities (Republicans in Safe D districts and vice-versa).  I'm surprised nobody has sued under the VRA to overturn it.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I like CA's jungle primary myself.

Top two primaries are unfair, undemocratic, and unconstitutional because they unfairly limit voters' choices and discriminate against political minorities (Republicans in Safe D districts and vice-versa).  I'm surprised nobody has sued under the VRA to overturn it.

Explain how they limit voters' choices and discriminate against political minorities.

In safe districts and states, both general election candidates are from the same party, meaning that minority parties are disenfranchised.  If you live in Los Angeles and San Francisco and you're a Republican, you general election ballot will most likely be all Democrats; there are rural parts of California where the opposite happens and both general election candidates are Republicans.  It basically sends the message that member of minority parties don't deserve to have a candidate that represents them, simply because they're a minority.