Politics

Getting The Vote Out Earlier

November 12, 2001 / 1:52 PM EST / AP

The Democratic presidential nominating process would start earlier in 2004 and could be effectively settled in just a few weeks under a recommended rules change.

The change recommended over the weekend by the national Democratic rules committee would allow many states to move their primaries as early as Feb. 3, 2004.

That would wipe out last election's month-long window between Democratic nominating events in Iowa and New Hampshire and the other states' primaries.

Democrats would be starting their primary schedule at the same time as Republicans this time. The GOP held high-stakes primaries in several states in 2000 while Democrats were idle.

"The stakes are too big for individual states," said Carole Khare, co-chair of the rules panel of the Democratic National Committee. She said giving the GOP a headstart on their state primaries was "damaging to state Democratic parties."

Republican rules now say all states cannot hold GOP primaries or caucuses before the first Tuesday in February.

Democratic officials also want to avoid a long and potentially divisive nominating process before they challenge President Bush.

Political analysts believe the shorter nominating process could help established candidates with the most money.

Iowa's precinct caucuses could be held no earlier than 15 days before the first Tuesday in February. New Hampshire's primary could be held no earlier than seven days before the February kickoff.

In 2000, Iowa held its caucuses Jan. 24 and New Hampshire held its primary Feb. 1. Then the party waited until March 7, when more than a dozen states held Democratic primaries or caucuses – an attempt to prevent states from crowding toward the start of the process.

Any other events held before March 7 last time did not count toward delegate selection and got limited candidate attention.

"It's an imperfect solution to a difficult problem," said Elaine Kamarck, a member of the Democratic rules committee.

The trend toward a shorter nominating season gained momentum in 2000. Democratic officials in some states, such as South Carolina and Michigan, pushed hard for such changes as a way of remaining competitive with Republicans, who had fewer restrictions.

The full DNC will decide whether to adopt the changes early next year. The rules panel approved the recommended changes unanimously on Saturday.

Several panel members said they were worried the changes would lead to a "national primary" as states crowd to the front of the line.

Panel co-chairman James Roosevelt Jr. of Massachusetts said there was almost a national primary in 2000 when many states in both parties held primaries in early March.

"This might have to happen to the extreme before we go to the next step," he said.

Democrats hope to work with Republicans in the future to develop a system that would reverse the trend of states holding primaries earlier each time.

Democrats needed to set the ground rules for the 2004 ace, even though it's years away, said Khare, who is from Columbia, S.C.

"It's time to start campaigning," she said, "and we have to have some rules."