Date of Conferral
3-5-2024
Date of Award
March 2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Gerald Regier
Abstract
The top-two primary election system, used on a limited basis in the United States, allows all voters (regardless of party preference) to vote for any candidate on the ballot for the primary election; the top-two vote earners advance to the general election, regardless of candidate party preference. Two candidates with the same party preference may advance. Additionally, political parties have no formal ability to affirm or disavow a candidate’s party preference. The effects of this system include uncertainty among county political parties and voters. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand Washington State county political party response to the top-two primary system. Using a policy feedback theory framework, this multiple case study included interviews and content analysis to assess and describe Washington’s county-level political party response to the top-two primary. Transitional coding and second round coding resulted in useful process codes that, when applied to participant counties and the documents available for content analysis, illuminated three types of counties: facilitators, recruiters, and enforcers. Researchers, policymakers, and voters all have an interest in the question explored by this study. Clarity and accessibility of voting processes are at the heart of the United States system of representative democracy. The positive social change influence of this study includes informing future public policy development surrounding elections processes, thus ensuring access, transparency, and clarity to all individuals involved in voting in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Larsen, Lori, "A Qualitative Study of County Political Party Response to the Top-two Primary in Washington State" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15506.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15506
