I split from the Democratic Party and declared my independence years ago. Its propensity to put party over people hasn’t created a space for those of us who don’t perfectly align with their agenda....

In a dozen states and the District of Columbia, registered voters who don’t belong to a political party are denied the right to vote in any primary elections. Most states limit participation in at least some primaries. This is not what civil rights leaders fought and died for in achieving passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Those trailblazers marched, bled and died for my right to vote....

I’ve been told, “you have a choice, register as a Democrat.” That’s not a choice, that’s a directive. And it’s not very democratic; in fact, it feels downright autocratic....

Lisa Rice, member Veterans for All Voters, Washington, DC, February 23, 2024

Inactive ballots constitute a small percentage of all ballots in IRV elections. Not ranking certain candidates is an active choice and expresses a preference itself; some voters will be consciously indifferent between some candidates or do not want to cast a vote for someone they truly don’t like.

This report shows that inactive ballots arise in nearly every election method, but IRV results in fewer ballots becoming inactive than single-choice voting

Chairwoman Moon’s public statements about enhancing voter participation seem contradictory when juxtaposed with the practical implications of a caucus. Deployed military personnel, already enduring significant challenges, are now faced with the additional burden of participating in an on-site caucus, a process that demands considerable time and effort. It is ironic that a change allegedly aimed at promoting civic engagement within the Republican party is, in fact, suppressing the voices of those who have dedicated their lives to upholding our own right to vote and express our opinions.

Military members, both past and present, sacrifice time with their families, endure hardships and sometimes pay the ultimate price to secure these fundamental rights for all Americans. To deny them the opportunity to participate in any part of the election process, especially something as critical as the majority party’s primary, is a betrayal of their service and sacrifices.

Marv Hagedorn, February 9, 2024