Before the Chatham County Elections Board switched from the manual lever machines to the optical scanner system, its members examined several options. Fla. Their study paid off and the system has worked very well in local elections. Ms. Cox's other proposals should be studied. She wants to turn the non-partisan primary into the main election for those offices, such as judges, and take those races off the general election ballot, making it shorter and less cumbersome. Ms. Cox wants to move the general primary from July to August, allow her office to remove deceased voters from the rolls, provide for early voting and simplify how constitutional amendments are placed on the ballot.
Simplification is long overdue.
Moving nonpartisan races to the primaries, however, may give voters the impression that these contests are less important and could affect turnout. She should reconsider that idea. The Secretary of State deserves credit for anticipating potential potholes and seeking solutions before they become problems. Georgia must not become another Florida.