Sixty percent of voters support a proposed overhaul California's primary system, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.
Proposition 14, placed on the June 8 ballot by the Legislature as part of last year's budget deal, would replace the current party primaries with a system where candidates of all party affiliations run on the same primary ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes, regardless of party, would advance to the general election.
Twenty-seven percent of voters said they did not support the measure, and 13 percent are undecided. The results show a four-point uptick in support since the pollsters last asked likely voters about the measure in March.
Support was notably higher among independents and self-described "moderate" voters. About two-thirds of respondents from those groups said they would back the measure.
The poll results suggest that proponents' main argument -- that Proposition 14 would allow voters to choose the best candidate in the primary regardless of party ties -- resonates with voters. About 80 percent of respondents said it was very or somewhat important to vote in the primary for whatever candidate they want.
Opponents argue that the measure would restrict voters' choices because it would only allow two candidates to run in the general election and it would eliminate write-in candidates. They point to a recent Center for Governmental Studies analysis of recent primary elections that found more than one-third of California legislative and congressional contests would have resulted in either two Democrats or two Republicans facing each other in the general election.
The Yes on 14 campaign is rolling in endorsements and cash, largely bolstered by the fundraising efforts of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has said passing the measure is one of his top priorities this year.
The opposition campaign has brought together coalitions of odd political bedfellows in recent weeks, including all six parties qualified for the ballot, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, consumer attorneys and labor groups. Opponents have yet to see a significant cash commitment to their cause, but they say the broad reach of their politically and regionally diverse groups will help them defeat the measure.
Click here to read the full poll.
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