Regarding the Oct. 2, page B1 story entitled: “Primary battle lines being drawn.” About 100 people attended the Bellevue hearing on the blanket primary. Unlike the other hearings, many people from minor parties were present. Almost everyone was opposed to any record being kept of a voter’s party and in favor of the same rules applying to all parties.

One speaker proposed eliminating the primary entirely by using instant runoff voting. Many other speakers endorsed this proposal. I read more about it at www.fairvote.org and agree that it is the best choice available. Voters rank the candidates (first choice, second choice and so on.) and the counting system selects the candidate most acceptable to the majority of the voters.

The advantages are a shorter and less expensive election season, less negative campaigning, minor party candidates cannot act as spoilers, no discrimination against minor party candidates, fewer voters feeling that they lost and more people voting.

Snohomish