Soviet Election
One factor which doubtless helped increase voter turnout in the recent Soviet elections could probably be used with similar effects in the United States. I am referring to the practice of crossing off candidates for whom one is not voting. As W.C. Fields said, “I never vote for , I always vote against .”
Many Americans are dissuaded from voting because they feel there are few candidates worth voting for. Ah, but consequently there are so many worth voting against! Additionally, the practice of voting against is consistent with most political campaigns, which are usually devoted to pointing out the defects of the opposition rather than the strengths of a particular candidate.
J.D. STEIN JR.
Marina del Rey
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