LOS ANGELES -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's name won't be on the ballot in November. But in a way, it will be.

Propositions 60 and 62 -- At A Glance Proposition 62 would replace political party primaries for state and federal offices with so-called open primaries. All candidates for an office, regardless of party affiliation, would appear on a single ballot and all registered voters would be eligible to participate. The two top finishers, regardless of party, would advance to the general election in the fall. Presidential elections would be exempted. State analysts say it would have no significant fiscal effect on the state budget. Proposition 60 would retain the status quo for primaries. Technically, it's a constitutional amendment that would require the general election ballot to include candidates who received the most votes among contenders from the same political party in a primary election. No fiscal effect on budget.

Among the laundry list of propositions voters will sift through this year is a proposal to remodel the state's primary election system -- a change that could alter the political geometry in the Legislature Schwarzenegger loves to hate and smooth the way for his potential re-election run in 2006.

The Republican governor has not formally endorsed the initiative, known as Proposition 62, although he has said, "In principle, I'm all for that, yes." If enacted, it would abolish the familiar political party primaries in state and federal races in favor of so-called open primaries -- a kind of candidate soup in which all contenders for an office would appear on a single primary ballot.

The two top finishers, regardless of party affiliation, would advance to a general-election runoff. It would not affect presidential elections.

Controversial?

Consider this. In a fiercely contested election year across the nation, Proposition 62 has forged an oddball alliance among the state Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Green Party, the Libertarians and the Peace and Freedom Party, all which want it defeated.

And by signaling his tentative support, Schwarzenegger has in effect placed himself at odds with his own party.

Members of the Legislature, who see a threat to incumbency and party authority, have backed a rival proposal, Proposition 60, that would essentially maintain the existing election setup.

Because its provisions conflict with Proposition 62, the measure with the most votes in November would take effect.

"Superficially, the coalition opposing the open primary looks bizarre, with Republicans and Democrats and even the Greens all on the same side. But on reflection, it's predictable," said Tim Hodson, director of the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

Political parties see themselves as "essential to democracy," Hodson said. "They view the open primary as a threat to that essential institution, as a way of turning back the clock when political parties were virtually run out of the state."

Supporters range from Arizona Sen. John McCain, Democratic Controller Steve Westly to a core group of Schwarzenegger friends and business associates who have opened their checkbooks to underwrite his past political ventures.

They argue that by opening primary elections to all voters, not just enrolled party members, successful candidates would more likely reflect Main Street views rather than the political poles that tend to dominate, and often paralyze, Sacramento.

With it would come greater voter participation, they say. November elections would no longer be the inevitable rubber stamp that takes place in gerrymandered districts, where one party typically has a lock on the outcome.

What's at issue for Schwarzenegger?

If Proposition 62 passes, he could end up with a more centrist Legislature in keeping with his middle-of-the-road politics -- at least theoretically.

At the same time, if Schwarzenegger seeks re-election in 2006, when the new scheme would first take effect, he would not have to run in a Republican primary.

Although Schwarzenegger's broad popularity makes him a commanding political force, GOP primaries have historically been dominated by the party's right wing, which doesn't always agree with the celebrity governor on social issues like abortion and gay rights.

The recall election that put Schwarzenegger in office last year "was exactly like an open primary," said state Education Secretary Richard Riordan, a Schwarzenegger appointee who is among Proposition 62's leading supporters.

"Arnold was in there as a moderate and people from both parties could vote for him. All the (political) pros have said if Arnold Schwarzenegger ran in a Republican primary, he would not have been nominated because his views are too moderate," Riordan added.

Regardless of whether Schwarzenegger is pushing Proposition 62 in spirit or fact, the campaign behind the proposition, Californians for an Open Primary, is being bankrolled with millions of dollars from by many of the same friends, political patrons and corporate interests that helped put him in office last year.

For example, on a single day last month, the committee received a total of $200,000 from Dole Foods Co. and developers Castle & Cooke, two companies controlled by longtime Schwarzenegger friend and fund-raiser David Murdock, who has also advised the governor on business issues.

The proposition has also attracted support from a spectrum of businesses long frustrated with the squabbling, liberal-leaning Legislature, such as KB Home, which gave $25,000.

Companies like Countrywide Home Loans, which has donated $350,000, have grumbled for years about business-choking regulations streaming out of Sacramento. Countrywide, whose chairman, Angelo Mozilo, serves on the governor's jobs commission, said last year the firm would shift any expansion to low-cost states like Texas.

Riordan, an honorary co-chair of the committee, has given the campaign $100,000. One of the campaign's chief strategists is Mike Murphy, a veteran GOP operative who is in Schwarzenegger's inner circle of political advisers.

Eli Broad, a co-founder of builder KB Home and a member of the governor's transition team, has funneled $166,500 to the committee.

Honorary co-chair Rebecca Morgan, a former state senator who also served on the governor's transition team, has pumped $200,000 into the proposition campaign. Two executives with ties to the business empire of Schwarzenegger friend and adviser Warren Buffet, Charles Munger, who gave $200,000 and Otis Booth Jr., who gave $100,000.

Other contributors with links to Schwarzenegger include F. Warren Hellman, who co-chairs the governor's jobs commission; financier Robert Day; Jerry Perenchio, who heads Spanish-language media giant Univision; and former Dreyer's Ice Cream chief William Cronk.

Cronk, who donated $50,000, said he had not spoken with Schwarzenegger about the ballot measure but considered it in line with the governor's desire to see people of all political stripes engaged in elections -- "an environment where everybody has some ownership and participation."

For opponents, Proposition 62 would limit rather than expand choice by virtually assuring that small, third parties would never make it to the November ballot.

They describe the scheme as an unruly breeding ground for extremists, who with enough money could push out mainstream contenders.

"The current system is indefensible, but this is a horrible, horrible solution," said Roy Ulrich, a board member of California Common Cause, which has aligned itself against Proposition 62.

Because of the state's gerrymandered voting districts that often strongly favor one party, "The top two vote-getters will in some cases be two Republicans, in some cases two Democrats," Ulrich said. "The cure is going to make the situation worse."

"A democracy deserves opposing viewpoints," said state Democratic Chairman Art Torres. "This proposal doesn't afford that."

Proposition 62 in only the latest attempt to revise direct party primaries, which were put in place nearly a century ago as part of progressive-era reforms.

The state's local elections are nonpartisan.

In 1996, Californians approved a "blanket" primary that allowed voters, regardless of party, to vote for any candidate in a primary. The candidate with the most votes for each party moved on to the November election. That system was used in 1998 and 2000 but tossed out after a court challenge.