Indianapolis, IN – Due to the bill’s effort to remove the straight-party device atop the Indiana voter’s ballot, the Libertarian Party of Marion County supports Indiana House Bill (HB) 1008 and asks that you do the same.
After examining voter turnout in Indiana’s 2014 midterm election, the United States Election Project claims that Hoosiers had the lowest turnout of any state in the nation. By the Marion County Election Board’s own figures, voter turnout among registered voters came to less than 25%, a disappointing outcome, considering the large number of races featured on ballots throughout Marion County.
“It’s telling that of eleven states offering a straight-ticket voting option, a majority find themselves near the bottom of states in terms of voter turnout in recent elections,” stated Chris Mayo, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Marion County. “On the other hand, the states that led the nation in voter turnout did not offer a straight-party voting option on their ballots.”
In a recent Senate Election Committee hearing, proponents of the straight-party voting repeatedly suggested that eliminating straight-party voting would prove “too difficult” for the average voter. Libertarians say they have more faith in their fellow Hoosiers.
With the order of the ballot as it stands, voters choosing the straight-party voting option often overlook the numerous non-partisan races that can be found found near the bottom of the ballot.
House Bill 1008 would eliminate the straight-party option, encouraging voters to identify the candidates competing in every race listed on their ballot. Members of the Indiana Senate Election Committee will hold a hearing on the measure Monday, March 30, and Libertarians request your contact in support to the committee’s members.
The Libertarian Party of Marion County is Indianapolis’ third largest party, and the only one advocating for smaller government, lower taxes, and more freedom. More information about Marion County Libertarians can be found at www.indylp.org.
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