The primary election is only a month away
The primary election is only a month away
We all have to quickly realize something. The primary election is only a month away. It starts August 1 - a Wednesday and exactly 5 weeks from now. The county Auditor’s web page continues to tell us;
We all have to quickly realize something. The primary election is only a month away. It starts August 1 - a Wednesday and exactly 5 weeks from now. The county Auditor's web page continues to tell us; "This year's primary will be held on August 21st." If anyone plans on voting courtesy of that information they will probably be left in the cold. The primary election runs from August 1 to August 21. Our esteemed Auditor, Shirley, needs to shake off her decades of experience with an "election day" and come to grips with vote-by-mail.
We old political junkies used to watch candidates squander August by not pressing flesh nor vigorously campaigning for the mid-September primary election. Well, June is the modern August and candidates and news media have squandered it badly. The Herald has printed more actual words lecturing us about how important our elections and women candidates are than it has printed information about the candidates. The only forums are scheduled for late July. That is equivalent to having forums only during the last week of October and not campaigning at all during September and into early October.
There are two related issues to this primary election in the middle of our vacation and summer leisure time. One is the sad story of how our Washington Legislature foisted this dysfunctional voting system on us (complete with multiple ballots) and the other is a simple solution that is cost effective, enhances democracy and saves time but is strongly opposed by the two political parties.
First, the Legislature - including our local Democratic Party Senator and Representatives - worked hard to keep the political bosses happy. The result is a primary in August, multiple colored ballots that prevent us from voting for the candidates of our choice and a political campaign season that is now two months longer. Just what we don't need. In March of 2004, this website closely followed the legislature as it took away some of our voting rights (see 'Top 2' link below). We can, if we want, elect state representatives who will restore these.
Second is Instant Runoff Voting, where we can combine the primary and general elections into one - preferably in November so we have a civilized campaign season starting after Labor Day. Most of us react negatively at first to this system but once we learn more it becomes obvious how elegant a solution it is. There are links to web sites with more information in the right side column.
Well - for now we have to deal with a totally screwy system where even our county Auditor is not sure how to tell us when we vote. Not her fault, really. Instead of naming August 21 "election day", it should be named "counting day", for that is what it is. Wonder when the Herald will tell us about our candidates.
We old political junkies used to watch candidates squander August by not pressing flesh nor vigorously campaigning for the mid-September primary election. Well, June is the modern August and candidates and news media have squandered it badly. The Herald has printed more actual words lecturing us about how important our elections and women candidates are than it has printed information about the candidates. The only forums are scheduled for late July. That is equivalent to having forums only during the last week of October and not campaigning at all during September and into early October.
There are two related issues to this primary election in the middle of our vacation and summer leisure time. One is the sad story of how our Washington Legislature foisted this dysfunctional voting system on us (complete with multiple ballots) and the other is a simple solution that is cost effective, enhances democracy and saves time but is strongly opposed by the two political parties.
First, the Legislature - including our local Democratic Party Senator and Representatives - worked hard to keep the political bosses happy. The result is a primary in August, multiple colored ballots that prevent us from voting for the candidates of our choice and a political campaign season that is now two months longer. Just what we don't need. In March of 2004, this website closely followed the legislature as it took away some of our voting rights (see 'Top 2' link below). We can, if we want, elect state representatives who will restore these.
Second is Instant Runoff Voting, where we can combine the primary and general elections into one - preferably in November so we have a civilized campaign season starting after Labor Day. Most of us react negatively at first to this system but once we learn more it becomes obvious how elegant a solution it is. There are links to web sites with more information in the right side column.
Well - for now we have to deal with a totally screwy system where even our county Auditor is not sure how to tell us when we vote. Not her fault, really. Instead of naming August 21 "election day", it should be named "counting day", for that is what it is. Wonder when the Herald will tell us about our candidates.
