To the editor:
As always, I discourage anyone from choosing a straight ticket to represent their vote. Straight tickets are the demise of democracy.
Statistically speaking, if everyone chooses a straight ticket, it doesn’t matter who is on the ballot; either all Democrats will win or all Republicans will win. This creates a problematic system, you see. Imagine that there is an amazing Republican candidate for seat x, but the Republican candidate for seat y is pretty terrible. If you choose straight ticket, they both win!
It also encourages rigidly entrenched ideology within our government — which needs variety not just to survive, but also to remain ethical. Straight tickets are a great way for the two-party system to exploit the ill-informed.
Basically, vote for who you want to see in office, and if you’ve never heard of them, leave it blank. Either do your homework or leave that decision for those who have. Voting is not a multiple-choice test; it’s OKAY to leave blanks. Straight tickets barely allow the opportunity for blanks, which discounts the votes of those who are actually informed — like grading on a curve.
For many offices, arguably most or all offices, it shouldn’t matter which party has endorsed a candidate; what should matter is the candidate themselves. The question we should be asking is, “How will this candidate represent ME?”
As you choose your split ticket this year, please choose each of your representatives wisely.
Thank you!
Anna Hofstetter, Nashville
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