Spring Elections and Info on Judge Races

How many of you knew that there was a primary election on Tuesday February 17? Did you vote? Likely it depended on the number of items to vote on. In my case, the only vote was for a local judge, nothing more. The limited amount of information available about the primary and the limited selections on the majority of primary ballots certainly kept voter participation down. Even reminders with basic information on the primary were very minimal on radio, TV, online, or in print. Below are my comments on this primary and the Spring general elections coming up in April.

If, as has been said many times that the cost of all elections is becoming very costly, why aren’t all of the elections held in the Fall, when most people expect them to occur? I know that it could require a legislative or constitutional change. But, think about it: if elections are worth having and too costly, they should include all of the election questions at the same time of year? Having the maximum voters turn out would provide the best results and having a elections combined into fewer contests would undoubtably save money.

Finally, I saw no educational information on the judge candidates on the February 17th ballot, which makes a single decision in a Spring election very difficult for voters to choose the best judicial candidate. Changes in our elections can and should be made. Join me in pushing reasonable needed changes!

This opinion piece was written by Dave Glomp, a longtime Madison Resident and former Broadcast Journalist.