Here we go again. I read Jim Fossel’s column on the Maine Senate Democratic primary (“Democratic Senate field isn’t waiting around for Janet Mills,” Sept. 28) with interest and then, growing astonishment — that he did not once even mention that we now have a semi-open primary system. 

That is, independent voters, who are unenrolled in any party, may choose to vote in any one party’s primary next year. For the first time.

Read that again, everyone. Think about what it means for the power of our vote. 

Is this a significant change, or no? Might it possibly be a factor in individual candidates’ risk-benefit calculations? 

More to the point — in a putative democracy, should a free press take every opportunity to publicize real changes toward more democracy, in any context where such changes are highly relevant? 

At least he mentioned ranked-choice voting; I’ll give him that. 

Jeffrey Hotchkiss
Portland