On Nov. 3 here in Massachusetts, democracy is on the ballot. The slate of Questions 1 (public records), 3 (all-party primaries), and 4 (Election Day registration) will deliver a more responsive, transparent, and representative democracy — one that gives every voter a real voice and choice.
Right now, Massachusetts ranks last in the country for both state Legislature effectiveness and competitiveness of elections. That comes with real consequences, as our state failed to make real progress on food, housing, transportation, and countless other issues.
All these problems are connected. If we want to make progress on the issues that matter most to our communities, we need to renovate the way we elect our legislators and how they work together to solve our problems. In particular, voting yes on Question 3’s all-party primaries will improve representation by transferring decision-making power from low-turnout primary elections to the full electorate in high-turnout general elections.
I hope you’ll join me in voting “yes” on Questions 1, 3, and 4.
Jerren Chang, president & CEO, Partners In Democracy
Boston