With the primary elections completed in the state, I hope are state leaders and the voters would get together and eliminate party primaries and go with a "blanket open" election.
I envision one ballot where no voter has to declare a party. Every candidate is on a single ballot and each candidate can choose the 10 letter description beside their name that identifies their party preferences or even personal preferences. For example a ballot might be:
Joe Tow-Republican
Amy Tow-Democrat
Sonny Tow- No new taxes.
Several states implement a "blanket type" election. Washington state actually does the blanket open election where the candidate identifies themselves with a party or any 10 letter identification that fits them. The one ballot open to all election would save money for the state and counties and others. While the research on actual costs of elections in Mississippi and other states is slim since some cost is the burden of each county, some burden on the state, and some smaller costs covered by federal grants and other sources.Even with that a state wide election like a primary runoff with just three offices can easily cost up to $4 million across the state.If the state changed to a single ballot blanket election it could save $50,000 per county per election eliminated. So, the primary elections in Mississippi would be eliminated and only have a general election with a general election runoff. Two elections eliminated could possibly save $8 million or about $100,000 per county.
Secondly, it may get better candidates to run and would help the voters be accurately represented.
Our present system in addition to being costly forces people to choose not only between parties but what races they have a voice in.
In 2015, Jenifer Branning along with 3 other candidates ran for State Senate District 18. All four ran as Republicans. That year like many other years, the sheriff's race, supervisors' races for several districts were only on the Democratic ballot in Winston County. So, if you voted on the Democratic ballot in order to vote for most county offices, you had zero voice in who represented you in the State Senate for District 18.
An open "blanket" ballot election could save money and enable a stronger voice to all voters so I vote for change to our state election system.
Editor’s note: Joseph McCain is the publisher of The Choctaw Plaindealer, The Webster Progress Times and Winston County Journal. He maybe reached at newsroom@winston countyjournal.com or 662-803-5236.
