by Marty Lorrey

This November could see a record number of ballot questions in the general election.

I generally considered ballot questions to fall under two categories; 1) The elected officials at the statehouse don’t listen to their constituents and 2) Dreams and schemes.

I’ll leave it up to the voter to decide his or her opinion on any given question.

Today, I choose to look at the petition to implement all party primaries. This, like any question, may or not make the ballot. In fact I think this one may go to court. But let’s take a look.

If successful, it would eliminate political party primaries in state elections. It would establish a system in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters can vote for any candidate of their choice with the two candidates receiving the most votes moving on to the general election.

Sounds great, an easy ballot to follow. Unfortunately, I have some concerns.

In Massachusetts, Democrats still have a large majority of the registered voters and would probably move the Democratic candidates along.

I say this because the majority of primary voters may possibly be democrats. I don’t know how many independent voters actually come out in the primaries.

So in essence, my concern is it may eliminate Republican, Green Party, Independent and Libertarian candidates before the general election.

With record low turnouts, I’m convinced this will be the end result.

On the other hand, in the September primary we are presently only allowed to vote for Democrats who garner 15% of the delegates for constitutional offices at the state convention. I’m not sure how the Republican party operates, so I’ll use the Democrats as an example.

Our State Auditor, Diana DiZogilo, has announced her intention to run for reelection. If she does not get the 15% at the convention and some other candidate does, well I believe she is out as far as being able to run on the Democratic ticket. And considering her battles with the state house, I believe that could happen.

So why not. I hope that given a choice of candidates in September, more voters of all parties will come forward.

I may be wrong, but what choice do you have when a popular elected official like Auditor DiZoglio could be denied an opportunity to run before the voters have their say.

Anyway, not all ballot questions are enacted, even after they receive the necessary signatures and votes to be enacted.

Just ask the Auditor.