Why aren't all the primary elections held at the same time?

Question

It doesn't seem fair that candidates jump from state to state
and people can see how this first state (like Iowa) voted and
then the second etc> and this could lead to how people in
other states vote

Answer 1

Because primaries are not real elections.

They are state-sponsored private endorsements of candidates. And because they exist only through the lobbying efforts of political parties, they don't have to follow any of the rules of normal elections.

Answer 2

Your question is a little ambiguous. What primary? Federal or State? Not that it matters to much. Many primarIEs for federal office ie Senate and Representative are at different times is because that particular state came into the union at a different time. Before a territory became a state representatives were chosen to help that process along, once a state constitution was drawn up and voted on, well there you go. Time for candidates to go from town to town gathering votes...remember most of this was done prior to television, and so most was done in person. So a primary is to narrow down the canidates who are running for whatever office. It doesn't hurt any other state, nor how it votes...during a presidential election year it is the electoral college that goes to the national primary to thow what support to whatever canidate. I hope this has helped you some.

Answer 3

The states that get the early primaries don't want to give up their unfair advantage.

Answer 4

It would cut down on Advertising profits.

It's all about the money


Go big Red Go

Answer 5

It is about politics, they have to vary the primaries so that they can cover a few states every week and do their politicking.