Opinion: Ohio’s outdated election system disenfranchises voters, fuels division
5.9.2022
R Street’s Marc Hyden and Unite America’s Tyler Fisher co-wrote for The Columbus Dispatch on how outdated election systems fuel partisanship and voter suppression.
“This “primary problem” exists across the nation: It’s so bad that just 10% of voters effectively elected 83% of Congress in 2020. In Ohio this year, 5.4% of voters effectively determined 80% of the state’s House contests (or 12 of 15 seats).”
Low voter turnout and partisan gerrymandering create “safe seats,” making the primary the election of consequence. In addition, the primary problem further incentivizes candidates to appeal to the most extreme voters instead of a more moderate voter base.
Read the full article here.
