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Some constituencies are overwhelmed with the number of races on the ballot. Voters do not have time to listen to or to watch every debate, nor research an excess of candidates coming at them from a high number of races. Voters get burned out as it is by being exposed to the many campaign ads by major races. With campaign time split among so many contests, voters may tend to vote straight party or rely too much on mere campaign-ad rhetoric. This caters to the tactics of party machines or results in votes cast more superficially -- especially towards important down-ballot races. Though we cannot give a universal exact number, we propose a limit on the number of races per ballot based on the following:
Notice in our list there are no senatorial candidates nor any judicial branch candidates as our party seeks to return to appointing all senators and our 'Appointment of Judicial Officials' plank requires that all judicial offices (judges, attorney general, clerks of court) be appointed, promoted or selected by relevant officials as opposed to being publicly elected. All other offices not mentioned be they cabinet level, department heads, clerks or task-specific positions (insurance commissioner, water-soil conservationist, dog-catcher) should be filled in similar manner as opposed to public elections. Limiting the number of publicly elected office positions allows voters to better focus on the core races in order to get a more exact government in place. This will carry out voters' overall intent and carry over to the appointment of all remaining offices. Our philosophy is that it is better to have fewer elective offices on the ballot which avails more time for discernment than a crowded ballot where certain races get less attention with greater risk to outcomes borne of ignorance. |