The proponents of State Ballot Question 3 call themselves the “Coalition for a Healthy Democracy,” but what they propose is anything but healthy.
The idea of non-partisan primaries sounds promising, until you look deeper. The measure could force candidates with similar platforms to compete against one another, splitting the vote, thus allowing a candidate with less popular ideas to advance. This incentivizes putting forth candidates believed to be able to raise the most money to out-compete the others. It makes it harder, not easier, for smaller parties to compete, and it will likely bring more money into statewide elections earlier — perhaps even from outside the state. It is no wonder that nearly $4 million of the money raised by the Coalition came from just 22 people.
Twenty-two people don’t make a broad coalition, and it sounds pretty unhealthy, too. Please join me in voting No on 3.
Mary Lewis
Randolph Street
