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III. Research and Report Summaries
electionline provides brief summaries of recent research and reports in the field of election administration. Please e-mail links to research to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The Top Two Primary in Action: Washington State, 2008-2012 – Drew Spencer, FairVote, October 2012: This report examines the effect of the top two primary system now in use in Washington. Instead of partisan primaries, the state now has an open preliminary election where candidates run against each other irrespective of party label. The two candidates who get the most votes then run against each other in the general election. The report analyzes the impact on voter choice, the role of "spoiler" candidates in the preliminary round, and turnout in both the preliminary and general elections.