Is it time for state to quit paying for primary election?
Editorial Tuesday’s primary election ballot may provide a good example of why more voters don’t vote and why it may be time for the state to quit paying for primary elections and just let the various parties decide who will appear on the general election ballot in November. When they go to the polls next week, voters must pick one of three ballots: the “Combined” ballot which features candidates from the Alaska Libertarian Party, the Alaskan Independence Party and the Green Party of Alaska; the “Democratic-Combined” candidate which features candidates from the “Combined” ballot as well as those from the Alaska Democratic Party; and the “Republican” ballot, which features only candidates from the Republican Party of Alaska. The different parties get to determine who has access to their ballots. Anyone, regardless of party affiliation, can choose the “Combined” ballot. Anyone except registered Republicans can choose the “Democrat-Combined” ballot. Only voters whose party affiliation is t
