BOSTON (WWLP) – Supporters of a ballot question creating an all-party primary in the Bay State gathered on the State House steps on Monday before delivering boxes of tens of thousands of signatures to officials for certification.
If the question were to pass next fall, all candidates for a statewide race would appear on a single primary ballot. All voters could vote for whichever candidate speaks to them, as opposed to the current system, where voters must vote within their registered party, or choose between the two separate ballots if they are independent or unenrolled.
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Proponents argue that it creates a fairer and more transparent system. “Healthy democracies mean choice, it means every voter’s vote matters, it means no voter is taken for granted, elections are competitive, and the people have the strongest voice,” said Celia Johnston Blue, CEO of the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition.
Supporters of the question pointed to other states that already implement all-party primaries, including California, Alaska, and Louisiana, each of which has reported an uptick in both election competition and voter participation…