The May 24 editions of the Alexandria Gazette Packet, Mount Vernon Gazette, and Arlington Connection include this letter to the editor from David:
Ways to Keep Voters Informed
To the Editor:
I read your recent editorial on the upcoming June 12 primary election with great interest. I was disappointed to learn that the State Board of Elections still had not published a list of primary Candidates online even two weeks after the filing deadline. As a member of the House Elections Subcommittee, I will be happy to work with my colleagues on legislation to require the State Board of Elections to publish online the names of candidates for all state offices within 24 hours of candidate certification. In the information age, we should expect no less of our government.
Your idea to require the State Board of Elections to publish and mail sample ballots to every registered voter also caught my attention. I would go beyond that and give every candidate on the sample ballot the opportunity to provide a short statement — say, 500 words — so voters have a better idea of what each candidate stands for. While this will certainly cost taxpayer money, it will strengthen our democracy by opening the process and helping voters make more informed choices.
Many of the best ideas for legislation come from constituents, community groups, and other organizations, and these are two that I will add to my agenda if the people of the 45th District honor me with re-election this November.
Del. David Englin
45th District
