Primaries should come before conventions

I have always thought of political primaries as an opportunity for voters to express their preferences so that party leaders can hear the voice of the people before they nominate candidates for the general election.

So given that the Democratic Primary falls on June

5, I was surprised to find that Monmouth County held a small, closed convention on March 3, and then Ocean County held a convention on March 11. Imagine that: conventions held before the primary. I understand this will be happening in Mercer County also.

I live in Monmouth County; in the run-up to the convention nobody asked me which candidates I liked. I don’t who voted on my behalf. I don’t know how my town voted.

But I do know this process is out of touch with the electorate. It would clearly be more democratic if the Democrats let the people pick their candidates by holding primaries before they hold their conventions.

If you are a Democrat or unaffiliated voter and agree, please mark your calendar for June 5. Vote in the primary, ignore the party line on the ballot showing the choice of the party insiders, and let your voice be heard!

— Phil Blackwood, Red Bank

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