CANCELING ELECTIONS?

Kos is apoplectic because Texas Republicans are discussing the possibility of delaying the March primaries if the redistricting hasn’t taken place by then. He terms this “canceling” the elections and terms it “par for the course” for the GOP, since “Republicans aren’t always the strongest proponents of fair elections.”

These aren’t “elections,” they’re primaries. Primaries are moved for all sorts of reasons all the time.

I oppose the efforts of the Republicans to redistrict in an off year because it sets a bad precedent. But until either the Democrats return and allow a vote or the Republicans give up their quest to redistrict, the district lines aren’t settled. It would be rather silly to have primaries based on the extant lines but then have several candidates become ineligible due to residency requirements if new lines do wind up being drawn.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Steven says:

    One wonders as to Kos’ position on the Torcicelli lawsuit, or the current attempt to alter the date of the CA recall election…

  2. Paul says:

    And he foolishly mentions Florida as an example where republicans did not want a fair election conviently forgetting not only the outcome of the recounts but the fact that it was Democrats that wanted to toss the votes of military folks out.

    Other than the fact that he gets his facts wrong, he makes a strong case. (/sarcasm)

  3. Bret says:

    …but the fact that it was Democrats that wanted to toss the votes of military folks out.

    The only votes that the Democrats wanted to “toss out” were those that were ineligible because they were past the cutoff date. Being that they’re, y’know, not up to the standards of the law and all.

  4. Paul says:

    Boy denial is more than just a river in Egypt huh?

    You can try to spin the past- That is not how it happened. Gore wanted to toss all military votes.

    Paul