Elsewhere around the nation, the general election campaign is in early to mid-bloom. In Illinois, primary voters cast ballots on March 20. West Virginia held its primary on May 8, Virginia on June 12, also Maine’s primary day. In California, primary voters went to the polls on June 5. Indeed, at this point, 29 states have already completed their primaries.
In those states, the general election candidates will have more time to make their case to a general election audience. In spring primary states, nominees can start their general election campaigning before school lets out, summer beckons, and civic attention dwindles. Such a schedule also allows for more post-primary fund-raising. All in all, spring primaries tend to foster more competitive politics.
Advertisement
In Massachusetts, however, the primary season drags on like an existentialist’s nightmare. This year, the primary won’t take place until Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day. That means challengers will have only about two months to mount their challenges to incumbent officeholders. That’s nice if one happens to be an entrenched officeholder with a bulging war chest, but problematic indeed if you are a challenger scrambling to pivot toward the general election.
This year, one of the contested Democratic primary races here is for secretary of state, the Commonwealth’s top election official. Which makes this a good time to ask the two Democratic candidates — long-time incumbent Bill Galvin and challenger Josh Zakim, currently a Boston city councilor — plus Republican candidate Anthony Amore whether they support a spring primary.
Zakim, via statement: Yes. “A springtime primary, held in conjunction with the municipal elections of many cities and towns, could boost turnout and give voters more time to learn about the candidates who are seeking their support in the general election.”
Advertisement
GOP candidate Amore, via statement: Yes. “I fully support a spring primary in Massachusetts as a great way to improve voter participation. This year’s day-after Labor Day primary is a prime example of how our current system allows for manipulation to benefit incumbents and disadvantage opponents.”
Incumbent Secretary of State Bill Galvin, via telephone interview: Yes. A spring primary, Galvin notes, would solve a fall primary problem created by the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which requires states to mail requested absentee ballots to military personnel and Americans overseas at least 45 days before the general election date. That law, in conjunction with the Jewish holidays in September, sometimes makes it difficult to schedule the primary on a day that is both convenient for voters and likely to draw a decent turnout.
But don’t expect the legislature to go easily along, Galvin says, because incumbent legislators, who would ordinarily have to pass a law to bring about that change, benefit from a fall primary. They usually don’t face primary challenges and so can avoid longer campaign combat and stockpile funds for a relatively short general election campaign. Asked about a ballot question to let voters decide the issue themselves, Galvin says “that is probably the catalyst it would take to get some movement on this.”
Now, there’s a cause for both the next secretary of state — whoever he turns out to be — and the good-government reformers eager for more competitive, responsive, voter-friendly politics in Massachusetts.
Advertisement