A commission headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker has proposed major changes in U.S. elections, but would preserve the “first-in-the-nation” status of Iowa’s Caucuses. The group suggests it’s time for “rotating, regional primaries” to help select the party nominees for president. But the group recommends that Iowa still lead-off the presidential selection process by holding the nation’s first caucuses, and that New Hampshire hold the nation’s first primary. The two men presented their ideas yesterday (Monday) to President Bush. Among their other ideas are a new, national voter I.D. card and making the top election officials in every state non-partisan, appointed by state legislatures. Iowa’s commissioner of elections is the Secretary of State, and every four years voters pick from the partisans vying for the post.
