Joe is the president of Mainers for Open Elections. He is also a member of IndependentVoting.org and the National Election Reform Committee.
Open Primaries
Next year, Maine will hold its first open primary election. Every Maine voter — including the 32 percent registered as unaffiliated — will be able to vote. It’s a critical step forward.
Commentary
Editor's Note: This piece originally appeared in the Portland Press Herald and has been republished on IVN by request and with permission from the author. Greg Kesich’s July 25 column in the Portland Press Herald, “The View From Here: Party politics times five,” is excellent in its
Editor's Note: The following piece was originally published as a "Letter to the Editor" for the Portland Press Herald and has been republiched on IVN by request and with permission from the author. Maine voters still live in a darkened room called the closed primary. In
Do American voters have a stronger theft case? For years both parties have done their best (or worse) controlling our public American election system. Are they the real guilty parties?
Editor's Note: This op-ed originally appeared in the Maine Voices section of the Portland Press Herald and has been republished on IVN with permission from the author. Until now, no American ever experienced the horror of our Capitol being attacked by fellow Americans. Greg Kesich, in his Jan.
Editor's Note: This piece originally published in the Portland Press Herald, and has been republished with permission from the author. The presidential election on Nov. 3 is nearly upon us. No matter who’s elected, it will have an immense impact on our nation. In Florida, another vote
Many Mainers, for the first time, have been confronted with what it means to have their right to vote threatened. It’s a deeply unsettling feeling. Which is why editorial boards across the state, including, on April 5, the Maine Sunday Telegram, have called for steps to be taken to
In his March 15 commentary, Sen. Angus King wishes Maine a Happy Birthday and another 200 years. He is certain history will repeat itself. OK. What will he and Maine’s congressional delegation do to ensure it? Will they adhere to our state motto to lead and demand that Congress
Written by Joe Pickering of Mainers for Open Elections, originally published in the Bangor Daily News. “Go Vote,” the March 4 BDN editorial urges. “There is no better way to reinvigorate the democratic spirit in you.” How so? Why should a plurality of voters in Maine and America have to
On Page D1, April 14, in the Portland Press Herald, the headline on Jim Fossel’s column states: “Simplification of tax code would achieve bipartisan goals.” The other, on Brian Klaas’ commentary, reads: “Can America survive scandal overload?” First, may We the People have a tax code that meets America’