A third or more of Maine voters are independents or unaffiliated. The primaries are closed to these Mainers. This is why we keep swinging back and forth from right to left and left to right, doing and undoing what the extremes on either side have done.

I believe most of us choose our party based on some of the party’s ideologies but not all. We do agree on most things. The division that is built and sustained by the two-party system keeps us from fixing the things we agree on, like infrastructure and education.

I believe we would all be better off if the middle-of-the-road voices had a say, those of us who do not want to be affiliated with the Democrats or Republicans. They should be allowed to vote in the primary of their choice.

The Legislature is debating a bill L.D. 211, An Act to Open Maine’s Primaries and Permit Unenrolled Voters to Cast Ballots in Primary Elections. If enacted, the bill will remedy the undemocratic practice of excluding independents, about 37 percent of all registered voters, from participating in primaries.

Call your representatives and tell them you want open primaries.

 

Paul Gregory

Winslow

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