Presidential Preference Primaries

(Flyover Version)

Many of our readers are familiar with Presidential Preference Primaries – especially our large-state subscribers.

However, for those of us in “flyover country,” our Electoral College votes are so few and the outcome is mostly pre-determined due to a wide margin of party registration, that many of our states choose to opt-out and save the money. It costs millions to run an election ($4.7m in Kansas), and when you’ve already budgeted for a primary and a general, adding another election beyond those two (and with only one thing on the ballot) is generally not in the cards. (Unless your lottery program did well or a MegaMillions winner lived in your state – haha! Sorry - state budget joke.)

On “Super Tuesday”, March 5, the following states will host presidential primaries: AL, AR, CA, CO, ME, MA, MN, NC, OK, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI.

Maybe Kansas legislators thought we could attract a national candidate if we avoided the jam-packed Super Tuesday deadline and went for a later date? The “official” line is that primaries held on/after March 19, per Republican Party rules, give all their delegates to the winner instead of a proportional amount by candidate. Who knows, but Kansas started the year with a $2 BILLION surplus burning a hole in legislative leadership’s pockets.

Maybe they thought Kansans were all good, nothing more to do here. Everyone’s healthy, fed, clothed, educated, employed, check, check, check! OK, let’s see if we can attract the national media and compete with Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio. Right. At least typing allows one to communicate with a straight face. Let’s just say we can think of a lot better ways to spend $4.7M.

[Steps off soapbox.]

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The League of Women Voters of Johnson County did a very thorough and by-the-book overview of the “Why, How, Who?” of the Presidential Preference Primary. Watch the video here, but fast forward 47 seconds to where the audio gets fixed!

What’s your plan to vote on March 19? Ideas:

1. Grab your friends:

   1. Coffee & Cast a Vote

   2. Venti & Voting

   3. Brunch & Ballot

   4. Lunch & Lead your friends to the polls!

   5. Happy “Action” Hour

   6. Praying & Polling

2.     Take the kids en route to school, it’s great for them to see you voting.

3.     Dinner & Democracy with your spouse – make it a date night!

Kansas Resources:

• Vote in-person advance beginning March 9

• Your Sample Ballot & Pollling Location

• Mail ballot applications were due February 20.

Happy voting!