Iowa State Representative Peter Cownie (R-West Des Moines) will again introduce a bill to eliminate Iowa’s straight-ticket device, according to this news story.
Iowa State Representative Peter Cownie (R-West Des Moines) will again introduce a bill to eliminate Iowa’s straight-ticket device, according to this news story.
I hope he is successful this time. There may have been a time when a straight ticket device was necessary, so that illiterate voters could identify a political party emblem, and pull the straight ticket! My great-grandfather and grandfathers had to do this in the South because of the carpet-bagging Republicans who tried to rule the South in dictatorial ways during Reconstruction.
I know the South was wrong with the institutionalization of slavery. The Civil War settled that once and for all. However, two wrong does not make one right.
Today, too many voters pull one lever for the wrong reasons. Also, most voters are literate enough, have radios, televisions, and some have internet, and have no excuse in not knowing which candidate – regardless of party – is best qualified for office.
The time for the straight party lever is over. Make the voter cast hopefully an “enlightened” vote.
It’s the easiest for seniors. Let’s keep it.
Seniors are probably the best informed group of voters of all groups. Why would we need to assist where assistance is obviously not needed?