A real Primary reform plan

The Secretaries of State have released a plan to reform the primary system.  Its not bad, and better than our current system, but I have a better, more dynamic one.

It's simple:

The 8 states with the closest popular vote totals in the last Presidential election go sometime in February.  After that, hold the regional lottery system- from March 1 to March 15, Region X states must hold primaries, from March 16-March 31 the next region, etc.  

This allows states the flexibility to decide how they want to impact the system (a big group of states the first Tuesday, a lone state the Sat. before the next bunch).

Redo the lottery every cycle since we don't want people running for office just because their region goes first.  Hold the drawing 1 year prior to election day, so there is absolutely no incentive to campaign before November a year before.

A synopsis:

1. The 8 states with the closest popular vote totals the prior Presidential election year will hold their primary/caucus sometime on or after the first Tuesday in February.

2. A regional lottery (same regions as described by SOS plan) will be held one year prior to Presidential election to determine the order of regionally based primary/caucuses.

3. Region 1 states must hold their election on the first Tues in March through March 15.  Region 2 states may hold their primary from March 16-31.  Region 3 states April 1-April 15.  Region 4 states April 16-May 1.  

4. Any state may choose to forego the assigned date and instead hold their election the first Tuesday of May.  This gives states an opportunity to either opt out of participation in the early process (i.e. they are not equipped for a high turnout primary election) or take their chances and make a large impact as the last state.

5. Any state that veers from the assigned date or the May date will forfeit representation at party conventions.

6. Move up party conventions to early June.

7. States must announce their primary dates by January 1.  Since most state legislatures are not in session, I would assume the previous spring legislatures will simply annoint a date for each of the 4 possible Regional dates or, as it will be known if they are one of the early 8, annoint a date in February or opt for the May date.