New York Primary Day #2

New York, as a matter of good policy, combined state and federal election primaries so that there was only one primary day. But, for reasons addressed here before, there was a split this year. So, the governor and assembly races (and U.S. Senate, though there was no race) was in June and state senate and federal House races were yesterday. I'm not sure exactly why they chose it this way.

I think it would have been best to have one primary day in August. The governor race (and lieutenant governor for Democrats) was not that competitive, but it might have bring in some more voters in the thinly involved race in August (saw some cite that only 3% of the electorate took part in early voting; doubt many more voted on Election Day). Plus, it would have saved the money required to run two races. I myself received another pay day as a poll worker. 

Still, seems bad public policy. Was there is a legal or constitutional reason for the choice?  Anyway, my front seat involvement set up some red flags other than low turnout. A good number of people came in, not knowing they were now at the wrong polling place. It appears that -- if they pressed the point -- they could fill out an affidavit ballot (which I assume would eventually be counted somehow), but no one pressed enough to do so.

Multiple Republicans (or those with no party) came in not knowing only one Democratic race was going on.  And, (again) one or more poll workers were not aware of what was going on either.  No, there was no "run-off" going on. Only the Democratic senate race had a competitive election going on.  A simple instruction, perhaps a worksheet, could be given to poll workers to read, especially those who will be at the desk checking in voters.

It looks like the newcomer who never served in government lost in that state senate race (early results were somewhat close).  I voted for her, but did not really have a strong feeling against her competitor.  Many did in presumptive winner of the NY-10 race, feeling Donald Goldman had various issues.  Goldman won by a point or two with less than 30% of the vote because progressives basically split three ways (something like 23-18-17) against him.  

This is ridiculous.  Yes, the progressives should have found some way to work things out.  Even if one of the three dropped out [the also rans even could have mattered with such a small margin], the end result could have changed.  What is needed here as a matter of sound democratic principle is instant run-off voting. The specifics can be debated.  Maybe, some sort of approval voting or whatever will work better than the IRV that is used for local NYC elections now.  But, unlike the U.S. and other British sourced countries, our "first past the post" system has issues, especially if there is no minimum floor for the plurality vote.  

[The reasons why the candidates did not rally around one candidate can be addressed, but it is a basic problem of social and political development when people resist joining against a common enemy. There are mechanisms, including voting methods, to help address it.]

There were various other notable races.  The special election to fill in the seat left vacant by the current lieutenant governor went the Democrats' way in a promising development.  Nadler beat Maloney.  My current state senator (Biaggi) not surprisingly lost her bid to defeat another Maloney, an important voice in Democratic strategy, who acts in ways some progressives resist.  (He noted in his victory message that "moderation" won.  Moderation is generally fine though can sound like a bad word.)

There were also primary races in Florida, including determining the Democratic choice to go against the governor there is Charlie Crist, former Republican himself.  He won by a healthy margin so guess the voters figured he was the best option.  I do not know who was the better option and think the senate race (Demings over Rubio) is more likely to be an upset.  But, I wish him luck, of course, since the current governor and presumptive leading option to go against Biden in 2024 is a damn troll.

As I noted in my early post about this primary -- I early voted -- I think it is important to vote in each election.  The state races on the ballot this year are of varying importance.  It did not really matter if Nadler or Maloney won, for instance, though some had a preference.  Some of the choices were more significant than that.  The things these people do in office surely is, even if no one person is important on their own.