The DNC ruled that because Florida and Michigan held their primaries earlier than party rules allow, Florida and Michigan delegates will not be allowed to vote at the convention. Apparently the party feels that the voters of those states should be disenfranchised because their representatives broke party rules. Now there’s a big controversy about that, and one proposal being floated is to allow them half votes, more or less as the Republicans have done.
A friend who probably prefers to remain nameless suggests that the voters that aren’t entitled to a full vote, rather than half, should probably get three-fifths of a vote.
My opinion is that party primaries should be conducted, and paid for, by the parties, and not by the states. As long as they are paid for by a state, the party should be required to honor the outcome of the primary, without regard to the date on which it is held.
As I recall, the Florida Democratic officials knew this would happen when they choose the date for thier primary, but choose to do it anyhow to be earlier in the primary season. If they knew this was going to happen, then its too late for them to complain.
I agree that the state party officials are responsible and that they have no grounds for complaint. It’s less clear to me whether it is reasonable that the individual voters registered as Democrats in those states should be penalized. Since I’m registered as a Libertarian in California it is of only academic interest to me. I only brought it up at all because I was amused by my friend’s comment.