Rex Smith's commentary "Seizing the wrong vote crisis," Oct. 7, about nefarious efforts to make voting more difficult for Americans, which in turn decreases voter turnout, does not address the real vote crisis. The real vote crisis is that the choice of candidates from which the electorate may choose is primarily limited to people from the Republican or Democratic parties. Minor parties have been legislated out of the American political process. State laws make it virtually impossible for minor parties to compete and give voters a choice on Election Day. In America, where we value competition and the ability to choose, it is the American political system that stifles choice and competition.
In a Times Union editorial, "Take a bow, Mr. McDonald," Sept. 26, the editorial board says that state Sen. Roy McDonald's defeat in the Republican primary was democracy in action and his ability to run on the Independence Party line represents the absurdities of New York's election laws; McDonald would only be a spoiler if he continued to run.
However, does Kathy Marchione best represent the thousands of registered Republicans who voted for Mr. McDonald?
What about the registered moderate Democrats or registered Independents who think Mr. McDonald best represents them and could not vote in the Republican primary? Is it democracy to not be able to vote for a candidate whom a voter likes the best?
Our winner-take-all political system and the minor-party stigma — their candidates are spoilers or votes for them are wasted — is the real vote crisis. When our political system does not always allow for the electorate to vote for the candidate they like the most, it forces the electorate to vote against the candidate they like the least or not vote at all. It is unfortunate that many Americans have been indoctrinated with the false mantra of the American "two-party system" when there is nothing that states the system needs to be just two parties.
If we want real democracy, real representation and increased voter turnout, then get rid of winner-take-all elections and eliminate the barriers for minor parties.
DONALD W. ELLIS
Troy