CROSS-OVER VOTERS

Extremist candidates and low voter turnout are the "norm" these days, so I support the effort to allow registered independents and other third party voters to cast ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries. By allowing those voters to participate in primary elections, several very important benefits can be achieved. First, the unfair disenfranchisement of independent and third party voters would finally end. Those voters ought to be heard, and that should include in primary elections, especially in politically lopsided districts such as York County where final decisions are frequently decided in the primaries. Second, by opening primaries to independent voters, who tend to be middle-of-the-road in their political beliefs, there is a far greater likelihood that qualified moderate candidates, who appeal to people in both parties, will choose to run for public office. Political extremists only represent fringe elements of their own party and do not give a voice to the majority of people they are supposed to represent, whereas moderate candidates offer a far better chance of actually advancing the interests of a greater number of their constituents. Democracy thrives when the most number of voices are heard. Let independent and third party voters speak too!