My idea for a new Primary system, let me know what you think!

Since I hate the current system because it places all of the attention on two little states like Iowa and New Hampshire, while excluding the importance of voters in States that vote later in the process I have devised a new idea for our primary system.

The country is to be divided into five seperate regions:
Northeast
Southeast
Middle North
Middle South
West

Each of these five regions would be comprised of a locked number of states.

Now, here is the way it would work. Each presidential cycle one state from each region would be chosen as a primary state in a five-week run-up to what would then be called "Ultimate Tuesday."

What?

It would look like this under my idea:

February 3rd: New Mexico (Mid South)
February 10th: Michigan (Mid North)
February 17th: New York (Northeast)
February 24th: Georgia (Southeast)
March 2nd: California (West)

March 9th: Remaining 45 states, Ultimate Tuesday

Like I said, this system would rotate every four years so the next cycle might look something like this:

February 3rd: South Carolina (Southeast)
February 10th: Nevada (West)
February 17th: Connecticut (Northeast)
February 24th: Texas (Mid South)
March 2nd: Ohio (Mid North)

March 9th: Remaining 45 states, Ultimate Tuesday

Why you may ask is this necessary? First off, it gives a much more representative example of the general election! Every vote counts and voter turnout isn't hurt in states like Oregon where people hardly show up for the primary because the nominee has already been selected.

Second, it creates a sense of fairness because every state will eventually have their chance to shine within the five week primary leadup. Each state, even if they are grouped in the Ultimate Tuesday 45 state primary, will mean something. This means better voter participation, which means good things for either party because it encourages, rather than discourages, people to participate in the political process regardless of their state.

Third, under this system the primaries are over quickly, allowing the nominee to focus his/her energy on the general election.


Your thoughts???

I used to live in IL, which voted in March, when there was still a contest. Now that I live in AR, with a primary in May, there's no point in voting, because the nominations have been sewn up. The only other way to do primaries would be to have everyone vote the same day-but this again keeps the spotlight off small states, where your system gives them a chance to be in the spotlight periodically.

Under this system, even if they were voting on Ultimate Tuesday, at least they would feel like they at least had a say in the matter. And, at least once every 40 years or so, they would get to be one of the 5 states.

Intersting. I like the idea of roatation. But why not more of it. Why not abandone the Ultimate Tuesday and add more rotation? Something like this:

February 3: One state from each region (5 states voting)
February 10: One more state from each region (5 more states voting)
February 17: One more state from each region (5 more states voting)

and so on for ten weeks.

Mix up the order every eleciton cycle.

Seems like that would acheive even more of the parity you desire while keeping the primaries nearly as short.