When it comes to choosing presidential nominees, voters in Ohio and Michigan may envy those in most other states. If you live in Iowa, you know your state kicks off the presidential selection process with caucuses in early January. If you live in New Hampshire, you know you'll get to vote in the nation's first primary soon afterward.

But the story is much different in these parts. Ohio bafflingly has moved next year's presidential primary from its traditional March date, when voters still could influence the selection process, to May 8, by which time the nominees are likely to be chosen and the primary to become essentially meaningless.

Since 1972, Michigan has lurched back and forth -- from an open primary to a closed caucus to a more open caucus and then back to a primary that was sometimes closed and sometimes open.

Sometimes Michigan has selected its delegates to presidential nominating conventions in May. Sometimes in April. Or March. Or February.

All Michigan voters can count on, every four years, is that politicians will do something different from the last time. And most often, they'll make it worse.

Four years ago, they outdid themselves in stupidity, holding a January primary that was ruled illegal by both national parties. Even if it hadn't been, Michigan Republicans chose a candidate who was soon out of the race, while Democrats managed to leave Barack Obama's name off the primary ballot.

Next year, Democrats aren't especially concerned about whatever system is chosen; barring a dramatic turn of events, they have their nominee. Republicans, however, will meet next month to try to decide how and when to pick their convention delegates.

State law calls for a primary to be held Feb. 28. Republicans logically could and should go with that -- if they can get dispensation from both national parties, which prohibit most states from holding primaries before March.

But some Republicans want a closed caucus. Because Michigan, unlike Ohio, has no party registration, Democrats and independents are free to vote in a GOP primary. They could be inclined to meddle, since they are likely to have no race of their own.

Whatever solution Michigan adopts for delegate selection, it needs to be permanent. And the state needs to stick to it long enough for voters to learn how it works.

First Published July 17, 2011, 4:15 a.m.