Bi-Partisan Effort to Dump the "Primary" and Save Michigan's Right to Vote

by: philgoblue

Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 10:51:43 AM EST

It seems that there is movement in trying to form a bi-partisan effort to dump the 15 January "primary."  According to the Livingston Daily Press and Argus State Representative Chris Ward (R-Genoa Township) is working to find a way to ally with Democrats to cancel the 15 January "primary."  Seems Representative Ward belives that the "potential for voter confusion, low turnout, disenfranchisement and bad publicity for the state" warrents cancelation.

Ward, a former township clerk, told the local paper:

"I have a strong concern that this is going to be a big black eye for Michigan. It looks like this is going to be an election with a lot of complaints ... it could give Michigan a black eye in looking like a Florida-type situation.

Ward had more reasons for wanting to look at delaying the primary to a later date. The fact that only four Democratic candidates have taken their names off the ballot, and that national party officials have threatened [the actually have done so officially -- 1/2 the Republican delegates and 100% of the Democratic delegates) to strip Michigan of its delegates to the nominating convention make it questionable "whether election results on the Democratic side will have any weight at all."

It seems that Ward is working on getting Republican votes lined up to support Representative Marty Griffin (D-Jackson) House Bill 5353, which would cancel the primary and reschedule it to later in the year.

Ward said he was canvassing his colleagues in the House to see whether it would be worthwhile to try to get a vote on the floor for Griffin's bill. He said "a handful" of lawmakers, including some Republicans, are interested.

I've got to run to class, but I wrote about the Griffin Bill here: http://www.michiganliberal.com...