Voting booths at a vote center in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)
I’ve been a Republican since 1972 when I was South Dakota Teen Age Republican secretary. As an adult, I was elected four times to the South Dakota House of Representatives. I was the assistant majority Leader of the Republican Caucus. And, I support Amendment H – open primaries in South Dakota.
Amendment H is simple – instead of separate primary elections based on politics, there would be one single primary for all voters. All candidates on one ballot. All voters allowed to vote. The two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election, where all voters will decide who gets elected.
Five key arguments in favor of Amendment H:
Everyone should get to vote
The most fundamental principle of democracy is one person, one vote. Every citizen is treated equally. Yet, in South Dakota, all citizens are not treated equally in the primary election. Independents are allowed to vote in the Democratic primary, but not the Republican primary. Republicans and Democrats don’t vote if all candidates are from the other party. Tens of thousands of citizens are denied the right to vote in these elections. Amendment H guarantees that all voters get to vote. It’s true democracy in action.
People, not political parties, should control our elections
Political parties do not appear in the U.S. Constitution. They are not part of our government or our democracy. Political parties are special interest groups – just like a labor union, a political action committee, or a professional association. Forcing voters to join a political party in order to vote in an election is more like Russia or China than a democracy. We are a “right to work” state – we don’t have to join a union to work. We should be a “right to vote” state – we shouldn’t have to join a political party to vote. Amendment H allows everyone to vote for any candidate in the primary election regardless of political affiliation. Political party status will not control if you can vote or for whom you can vote.
Tax dollars should not be used for partisan politics
When a political party endorses one person in an election or chooses delegates for its convention, that is political business. Just like a labor union, the chamber of commerce, or private corporations electing their leadership. Tax dollars should not be used to do political work. In South Dakota, the tax-funded primary election is being used by political parties to conduct private business. Amendment H guarantees that all voters will be able to participate equally in our taxpayer-funded primary. No special status for some voters because of their political registration. Political parties can still endorse candidates, campaign, and select convention delegates. But, they’ll have to do it with their own money – not with tax dollars.
All voters should have a choice
In communist countries, voters often have only one candidate from which to choose. This “no choice election” happens in South Dakota, too. It is not uncommon for all candidates running for office to be of the same political party. When that happens, those candidates only appear on the primary ballot where only some citizens can vote. Frequently, the winner of the political primary is then automatically elected. Many of our elected officials are being chosen by some, not all, voters. Amendment H provides for the top two candidates to be on the November ballot, even if they are from the same political party. Your favorite candidate might get eliminated in the primary. But, you will still have a choice in November as to who will represent you.
Elected officials should be elected by a majority of voters
South Dakota law allows more than two candidates on the November ballot – Republicans, Democrats, third-party candidates, and independents. If three or more candidates are running for office, the person with the most votes – not a majority of voters – gets elected. An elected official can be opposed by a majority of voters and still get elected. Amendment H provides that only the top two candidates face off in the November election. So, a majority of voters will have to agree on who gets elected. All elected officials will have to receive more than half the final votes. Majority rule – a cornerstone of democracy.
Conclusion
Amendment H will change our election process in South Dakota for the better. Political parties will be influential, but not in control. All voters will have equal opportunities to be heard in the electoral process. Competition among candidates will be greater, and that will lead to elected officials representing all the voters equally. Only in a Democracy does the process – voting and participating – matter more than the outcome – who wins. For a democracy to work, everyone must be able to participate. Amendment H guarantees that.
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