Who pays for the primaries?

[Franzl]

When states run primary elections are they paid 100% by the tax payer? Meaning voting booths, etc? And if so, why? Primaries aren't even required by the law or the Constitution, shouldn't the parties pay for a portion of the costs?

I think it varies from state to state. Most states do use taxpayer money, I believe.....I think I heard once that the parties pay for them in South Carolina, for example.

[Franzl]

If Parties had to pay for primaries, most states wouldn't have them.

Too bad, though. I don't see why taxpayers should pay for internal party matters.

[Franzl]

If Parties had to pay for primaries, most states wouldn't have them.

Too bad, though. I don't see why taxpayers should pay for internal party matters.

Well, one could argue that primaries are essentially a first round in a runoff system, and therefore it is okay that the states pay for them.

But it's nothing like a run-off system. The number of votes the various candidates have aren't relevant in the primary system, except within a single party.

[Franzl]

Look at how much people bitch about caucuses, which are party-funded.

We don't need either one....if parties don't want to pay for primaries....they're perfectly free to just nominate their candidates the way they do in the rest of the world.

I don't care either way.