Readers' forum: Fixing the caucus system

A recent letter said that "Utah needs a political system that empowers all voters equally — one person, one vote" ("New political system," Readers' Forum, March 20). Neil Blackburn ("A better election system," Readers' Forum, March 20) also expressed reservations with our caucus system — that it is exclusionary.

I believe many voters that attend local caucus meetings have strong feelings about one or more potential candidates. Here is a proposal to accommodate both groups. Encourage the politically avid to submit a list of their preferred candidates. For each office, the first choice is the one that will be counted in a running total (made public) during the early vote period. Other candidates may be listed in order of decreasing preference.

At the end of the early vote, broadcast media will air candidates messages as a public service on a state holiday. The time and duration of this political propaganda is chosen by the candidates. The candidate with the most early votes gets to choose first. Others follow in descending order of their vote total. Voters wishing to see and hear the candidates before they vote may then submit their choices in order of preference.

Finally, all ballots are counted in instant runoff fashion to arrive at the winners.

Richard H. Kimball

Holladay

Other letters about Utah caucuses

Caucuses are ineffective

Choosing a senator

Fair election system?

Great caucus turnout

Disappointing caucuses

New political system

Caucus turnout

Great caucus meeting

Better election system