The ULTIMATE PRIMARY survey: First primary/caucus state

[MarkD]

Here is a suggestion I have talked about several times before on TE.

It would take a constitutional amendment to adopt the system I am suggesting.

Adopt an amendment that provides for the following rules: require all of the states and US territories to use presidential primaries from now on; no more caucuses. All states/territories will be prohibited from holding their primaries before April 1st, nor any later than June 30th. The New Hampshire law which says their primary must be the first in the country would be void; no state should be allowed to adopt a law that says "We're first."

Allow all of the states with 3 or 4 ECVs, and all of the US territories, to hold their primaries on any date in April, May, or June, but ONLY those states/territories are allowed to hold them in April. (This would include Alaska, American Samoa, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, US Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia,, and Wyoming. These may choose any date in April, but they are allowed to choose dates in May or June as well.)

Allow the states with 5 to 11 ECVs to hold their primaries in May or June, but ONLY those states, and the previous set of states/territories, to hold them in May. (This would include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. These can pick any date in May, or June if they wish.)

Make all of the states with the most population, 12 ECVs or more, wait until June. (This would include California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. These can pick any date in June.)

In coming decades, after each census and reapportionment, some states might change to a different month, so the lists I have above might change.

The reason I prefer this system is because it would increase the likelihood of a "dark horse candidate" being able to compete via "retail politics," - candidates meeting voters personally, one-on-one - instead of having fund-raising and TV advertising as the most important attribute that determines who wins. Of course, I hope not ALL of the smallest states will pick the first Tuesday in April.