The master lever is an evil mechanism to keep the ill informed from voting on issues and individuals. It has always surprised me the number of people who fall for that, and do not see the evil it is. Just drones led to slaughter is all it does.

I call it the status quo lever. You don't know anything about anything, but you do know that if you draw that line next the big "D" everything will stay the same. The same people will stay in office, we will still have all the same problems like failing education, roads, unemployment and the highest taxes in the nation.

This is Rhode Island. The Master Lever serves the needs of the Democrat party. If you remove it, the victims and blue hairs might actually have to think before they voted and that is not wanted.

I consider the Master Lever as "lazy voting." You want to do your civic duty but could be bothered in knowing the candidates. It's amazing that this mechanism has survived this long on the books. It does disenfranchise the local tickets like East Providence candidates as they are all on a non-partisian status. If it is eliminated from the ballot, it will be interesting to see what the future election results will be like.

If in fact, the Master Lever is "lazy voting" and it favors Rhode Island Democratic candidates, please explain why, even though we have an overwhelming one-sided legislature, we have elected a record number of Republican governors. Is it just possible that Rhode Island voters really do know how to split their vote? Then, there is also the matter of choice; many candidates are unopposed.

In fifty-eight years of voting, I have used the Master Lever as an option three times. In all three instances, there was not a candidate worthy of my splitting my vote and the ballot was loaded with time consuming referenda.

If it is eliminated, I, too, will be interested to see if and how future elections will be affected.

I love the simpletons and Fox News watchers/conspiracy theorists that think this is a real issue. I'd like to see any evidence that the “Master Lever” favors one party over another. Maybe if some of these losing candidates appealed a little more to voters they wouldn't have to blame the lever for their losses.

I think what would please these folks most of all would be to banish the master lever for democrats only. How does that sound?

Don't blame the lever for the irrelevance of the Republican party! The voters are not stupid enough to pull that lever. The only hope the GOP has is to rig the maps to change the electoral college votes--the most evil idea they have come up with yet. Right up there with discouraging voters in Democratic districts with long lines. They are an embarassment to democracy.

Representative Michael Marcello has introduced legislation (H 5072) on this issue, and the bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. A public hearing will be held on the bill .

They will certainly weigh the pros and cons of the testimony that is offered.

I encourage you all to continue to correspond with members of the General Assembly. Thank you Bill

Based on some of the reply's - in RI education was long ago replaced with a socialist indoctrination . Yes, where tools necessary for citizens to manage a constitutional republic were almost eliminated. Yes, tools starting with those necessary for independent adult critical thinking skills. Today the results are self evident with the collective capacity and capability of citizens and a government that reflects their unbelievable ignorance, arrogance and incompetence..

Low Information Voters deserve no tool that makes it easy. If you don't take the time to at least learn the names of the candidates don't vote.

Those posters that support the elimination of the lever system do so because somehow lead voters to pick Republican candidates. Republican candidates do not win in RI because most of them fail to offer an alternative vision for the state. When this starts to happen, then more Republicans will start getting elected to office.

My previous post should read "because somehow it will lead"

Look, many of us are not supporters of the "Low Information Voters" (more commonly known as Fox News believers); but that doesn't mean we should make it more difficult for them to vote.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2011/11/21/fox-news-viewers-uninformed-npr-listeners-not-poll-suggests/

Quote:

"“While the master lever option does make the voting process quicker for some, the controversy surrounding its use has unfairly called into question the legitimacy and fairness of elections,” said Representative Marcello. “Eliminating the master lever will end the speculation that somehow election outcomes would be different.”

In a statement issued last week, Gov. Lincoln Chafee also called for the elimination of the master lever in Rhode Island, saying that “any mechanism that contributes to voter confusion – and worse, voter disenfranchisement – should not be on the ballot.” Calls to end the use of the master lever have also come from Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung and Moderate Party founder Ken Block, among other state and municipal leaders.

According to information from the state Board of Elections, about 24 percent of voters in the November, 2012, election used the master lever option."

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=8761

This is a great issue and I'm glad you brought it up Anthony. We all have those friends who mock our right to vote and claim it's "fixed" or that their vote "does not matter". I urge all my friends Democrat or Republican to share this blog and issue at hand with your friends and family - why you ask? Well, if our individual vote "does not matter", then why would this be an issue?

The "Master Lever" site is self-explanatory. By using it, your vote may not register on such pols that are non-partisan (i.e. School Committee). Every vote should count. It's also an archaic, party-driven tool, instituted at a time when our grandparents had just come here, weren't educated, many illiterate. Think back to your history books - Boss Tweed, others and how they used it to manipulate votes. We are truly a lazy society. The voting machines are gone yet we stopped & pulled each lever. Now, all we have to do is mark a piece of paper with a pen - no bending down to make sure we pulled a lever. The only things we have to do now are 1) know your candidates, 2) get to the polls and 3) vote for the person you feel will do the job - not all follow the party lines to the letter. And PLEASE - read the referendum items that are sent to you!! NOT the 'headline' - read the fine print at the bottom. There is the actual cost of the long term 'bond', not the amount stated in the headline, how long we have to pay on this 'bond' . Stay informed and vote !

Do you think they will approve another one million dollar bond to repair the turbine? Any scoop on the wind turbine repairs ?Any votes on the repairs or public discussion?

How many of you righties actually split ticket? come on now. Chafee did get elected.

A very high per centage of voters are not enrolled or independent.
They split their ticket.
The master lever should go the way of the 5 cent cigar.
Maybe then, issues and not party affilation will mean something. Republicans signing "no tax" pledges to a third unelected person in violation of their constitutional oath that may require them to raise taxes is absured. That is just one example.

The Portsmouth WTG REPAIR, unworkable business models examined? Are THE WHEELS TURNING TO BAIL OUT THIS MISADVENTURE AT THE RI GA AND ITS EDC? Yes, if accurate then an additional plunder of the state wide tax payer and utility rate payer. This Pts Industrial WTG is a case study in a collective ignorance, arrogance and incompetence fueled by the misguided green political cult of true believers.

Yes, All has been very quiet as to RI GA EDC EBEC & The Portsmouth Industrial Wind Turbine project. Expect the revenue stream mechanics to shortly make another run at the local, state & Federal tax payers?

The Deep Water Wind - Hedge Fund financed activities is evolving - many modifications of the plans. The recent Newport Daily News opinion page we are in for a healthy finical plunder etc..

Observe the Industrial Wind Turbine Farm Groupies and members of the politically aligned cult of true believers recently at the USN Industrial Wind Farm Project out brief, held at CCRI . That project now depicted as located on and or near many Aquidneck Island west side (bordering all three communities) USN hazardous waste sites and in the Newport Air Park flight corridor). The takeaway from the Environmental out brief was that this is a top down mandated Industrial Wind Turbine Generator solution from Washington, DC with little or no concern for Aquidneck Island - Narragansett bay Basin eco system and its crown jewel. Concerns & Alternative solutions only superficially examined!

Pull the Master Lever for Good.

Let voters choose their legislators.

They should also favor more open primaries and a Citizens Commission, which will let the citizens draw the legislative districts, not the politicians.

Go, Rhode Island, Go!

Did they vote on wind turbine repairs? Must be in so-called "executive session". What happened to the Rhode Island Open Meetings Act (OMA) ?