It is the public’s election, after all

The Thursday letter, “Parties don’t pay for the election,” makes a very valid point. Why do I, as a taxpayer, have to fund the primary elections when I don’t have the freedom to vote for who I want?

Since each independent private party is soley responsible for the determination of their candidate(s), then the party should fund whatever process they use to make that determination. If the public is to fund a primary, or any other election, then party affiliation should not be a factor as to which candidate a voter may choose.

The state primary could remove party affiliation from the ballot. However, don’t hold your breath for something like this to happen. Those in control of the election process are either Democrats or Republicans who “got there” by the existing process. Currently the only choice we have is to either go along with choosing a party in order for our vote to count, or boycotting the primary. Heck of a choice.

Robert L. Reich

Freeland