Rhode Island is one of only 15 states left that still offers the option of party-line voting, and the only state in the Northeast. It appears as if 2013 will see a renewed and strengthened effort to remove this vestigial electoral organ. Ken Block is leading a petition drive to push the issue. [You can sign the petition here: www.masterlever.org/]
Block is not alone in this fight. Already 24 of the state’s 39 municipalities have passed resolutions calling on the State House to get rid of the master lever. Additionally, good government groups from across the political spectrum are in favor of requiring each voter to vote for every office on the ballot separately.
I can’t say with confidence that taking away the lazy option of voting for a straight party ticket with the single stroke of marker will lead to voters becoming more educated about each race, but I do know that it can’t hurt. Because our ballots are simple to understand and our vote tallying machines are quick and clean, I also can’t see any benefit to keeping the option.
Thus by abolishing the master lever anachronism, we risk nothing and stand to gain at least a somewhat better informed electoral process. What are we waiting for?
I’m glad Abel wrote this fine post which should show the abolishment of the “master lever” (not really a lever that shows who you actually voted for as the old machines with an actual lever used to do) is not necessarily a conservative plot but a good government issue. I think the master lever is especially hard on independents running for office, something I would like to see more of.
this is an example of good bipartisan policy. Progressives should support this simply on principle- a vote should not be mass produced by the voting machine.We all know that there are lots of DINOs in Rhode Island that only get elected riding on the coattails of a Democratic Party that existed in the past, the party of John Kennedy, FDR, and even the Great Society which gave us Civil Rights reform. In my opinion the Democratic Party of Rhode Island would be better served by focusing on theses liberal programs that made them an alternative party. and having them sneak int office on the Master lever I’m not even tell people what they’re planning on doing hurts democracy.