November 5, 2022
Dear editor;
The increasing polarization of our Nation’s politics is well known. It’s safe to say that most Americans consider it to be at least a detriment, if not a threat to our way of life. Approximately three-fifths of our Senate seats and four-fifths of House seats represent districts dominated by one party or the other, to insure that the winner of any primary almost always wins the general election. As a result, candidates in these districts pander to their base rather than the public. The result, according to United America, is that eight percent of eligible voters effectively decide who wins 84% of congressional seats. Alaska did something about it in their last primary and special election. All voters were eligible to vote in a single primary with the top four candidates moving on to the general election, which is then decided by a ranked choice vote, A.K.A. instant runoff. This made candidates beholden to all of the voters, not just their base and insured that the winner received a majority of votes, not just more than any other candidate. This kind of voting is spreading world wide. Let’s hope it can help pull our leaders from the extremes towards the middle.
Craig Zabel, Sugar Grove