I don’t like the presidential primary system because I and my fellow South Dakotans, like most Americans, have little voice in the process.

While I have a keen interest in national politics and remain politically engaged, the reality is that my ability to influence the selection of my party’s presidential nominee is nil. By the time our state’s presidential primary election arrives in June, the nomination process is usually over, or nearly so.

Like many of our tired election practices in the US, the presidential primary process no longer makes sense. It’s not fair or democratic. Few Americans have any meaningful involvement in it.

No Shortage of Candidates

There is no shortage of people who want to be president. And many run when there is not an incumbent in the way.

The current process typically commences with the Iowa caucuses, followed by the New Hampshire primary and the South Carolina primary. Those three states have a combined population of less than 3% of the US total. But by the time they are done, the nominations are often locked in.

Tim Scott (second from right) was endorsed by SD’s two US senators

In 2016, there were 17 Republican candidates. Five withdrew before the primaries and 11 of the remaining 12 were eliminated in the primaries leaving Trump as the nominee. Only three names appeared on the South Dakota primary ballot that year, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich.

2020 Democrat Candidates

In 2020, there were 29 Democrat candidates for president. Eighteen withdrew before the primaries and 10 of the remaining 11 were eliminated in the primaries, leaving Biden as the nominee. Only two names appeared on the South Dakota primary ballot that year, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.

The Field Thins Too Quickly

This year there were 13 Republican candidates. Several were intriguing to me. Eight dropped out before the primaries began and 3 more left during the early contests. Only Trump and Nikki Haley were left in the race long before the South Carolina primary.

The presidential primary system swiftly eliminates most candidates long before voters in most states get a chance to voice their opinions. A shortage of money, not qualifications, is often the problem for many who pull out. This is outrageous.

Don’t Blame the Voters

AI generated photo

Numerous Americans express dissatisfaction this year with the prospect of a Biden vs. Trump showdown in November. The existing system frequently fails to yield outcomes desired by voters. Yet, numerous political commentators and so-called “experts” appear to overlook this reality, instead opting to lay blame on the electorate for the predicament. They are unwilling to acknowledge that if we had a primary system that better reflected the wishes of the voters, neither would likely be on the ballot.

Better Alternatives Are Available

If we were to start from scratch today to create a nomination process for political parties to choose their best presidential candidates, it likely would not look at all like what we have today. A new system might treat all voters around the country equally. And it could encourage competition between numerous candidates up until voters get a chance to weigh in. One option is a national primary with all states participating on the same day.

A presidential primary system intended to give voters what they want might even allow them to rank the candidates in order of preference. Ranked choice voting is increasing in use around the US and produces a clear winner who is usually popular with most voters.

Someday Election Reforms May Arrive

People involved in government and politics tend to resist change. They thrive in today’s systems, so they want to protect the status quo. In spite of those headwinds, meaningful reforms are happening in places like Alaska, Nevada, Idaho and Utah. I remain hopeful we will eventually see logical and democratic election systems throughout the US.