Letter to the editor written by Joyce Dattner, originally published in the Berkshire Eagle
To the Editor:
In Cheshire, the town I’m proud to now call my home, there is a growing conversation about ballot Question 3 — the pros, the cons, the whys and the why-nots.
These are important conversations and as an independent I am always eager to share my experience.
There are more than 3.3 million unenrolled (independent) voters in the state. That is 67 percent of all voters. We have a higher percentage of independents than any state in the country. Seventy-five percent of independents are under 34, and 70 percent of people of color are unenrolled.
Question 3 proposes that we change our primary election system from partisan primaries to an all-party primary. All the candidates for an office on one ballot and all voters get the same ballot. The top two vote-getters go on to the general election – simple plan. It would make our elections more competitive and more responsive.
Here is what I want you to consider. Right now as an independent, if I want to vote in the primaries, I have to pick a single party ballot. That is not how I want to vote. I want to vote for the person, not the party.
For many years, I lived in California with a nonpartisan primary system similar to the all-party primary. I loved it, and I felt my legislators were more responsive to voters. Question 3 would allow me and 3.3 million unenrolled voters to participate politically in a way that is not controlled by the parties. That would be a good thing for democracy. I hope we vote yes.