In June, the Maine State Legislature passed LD 100, an act that repealed the state’s previous presidential primary process and replaced it with a caucus system. I strongly disagree with this harmful legislation, as its logic is distinctly contradictory to our state’s proud tradition of high voter turnout and strong civic participation.
Fewer than 20 percent of registered voters headed to the polls for the 2000 primaries. It is disturbing to find, then, that political scientists acknowledge a much small turnout is expected for the February caucuses in Maine.
In addition to the decrease in the expected participation, one must also question the very procedure of the caucus. According to the Democrats’ Delegate Selection Plan, in the caucus system, a ward’s moderator counts and physically divides those in attendance on the basis of their presidential preference. It seems to me that we are reverting back to a selection process in which voters are not granted the Australian, or secret, ballot and are coerced to vote in public if they are to vote at all.
I believe that the Legislature’s decision to alter our candidate selection system has several negative implications. Although the change will save the state an estimated $22,000, it’s not worth the costs of diminished voter participation and privacy.
Ken Whitney, Lewiston
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