Mass. voters deserve better ballots

The /ynn Daily Item

When it comes to ensuring election ballots contain clear and concise voter information, Massachusetts can do better.

The Massachusetts Secretary of State’s (lection Division deserves praise for ensuring ballots, including the one drafted for the Sept. 1 primary elections, is printed in Spanish as well as (nglish.

But that’s where the praise ends. The ballot is riddled with confusing and outdated titles and language, and decidedly short on information valuable to the voter.

)or e[ample, the Democratic primary ballot mailed to residents includes the heading, ³Senator in Congress.´ Any eighth grader knows this is a clumsy, if not redundant, way to describe the office sought by U.S. Senator (dward -. Markey and U.S. Representative -oseph P. .ennedy III.

The proper heading ³United States Senator.´

The ballot heading for the Si[th Congressional District primary should simply

should

read, read, ³United States +ouse of Representatives,´ not ³Representative in Congress.´

Both of these ham-handed e[amples pale in comparison to the poor description the voter is subMected to in the race for the *overnor’s Council District Si[ seat.

We can give voters the benefit of the doubt and assert that most people come to the polls informed about their voting choices. But the harried or less-than-prepared voter could be forgiven for reading ³Councillor´ on the ballot and wondering if they are voting in a city or a state election.

The same can be said about the description for legislative races listed on the ballot. Ballot listings for state Senate and Massachusetts +ouse of Representatives candidates are listed under the heading ³*eneral Court.´

There is nothing technically inaccurate about this description e[cept for the fact that it never crosses the lips of anyone talking about the state legislature.

The busy voter who is not a political science maMor speciali]ing in Massachusetts politics can be forgiven if they fill out the ballot wondering if they are electing a Mudge.

Ironically, the elected office probably least familiar to voters is the only one accurately described on the ballot The office of Register of Probate.

The ballot should include concise descriptions of the elected offices listed on it. ³U.S. Senator´ could include this description ³The candidate elected will become Massachusetts’ Munior senator serving a si[-year term. U.S. Senator (li]abeth Warren is the state’s senior senator.´

The *overnor’s Council description could read ³*overnor’s Council duties include advising the governor on appointments, pardons and commutations.´ Short, sweet and informative.

It’s time for Massachusetts ballots to inform voters with concise and helpful language.