This week was bad for democracy in Northeast Michigan.

Tuesday was the deadline for Republicans and Democrats to file to run in the Aug. 6 primary for partisan seats in state and local government.

Too few people stepped up to the plate.

The filings revealed only one candidate for the overwhelming majority of seats, according to a story by News staff writer Steve Schulwitz.

When only one candidate appears on the primary ballot, that candidate automatically advances to the general election so long as he or she votes for himself or herself. Unless a third-party, independent, or write-in candidate comes on later to challenge such candidates, they need only vote for themselves to win the seat outright in the fall.

In short, voters get no voice at all.

Too many seats, including some key seats on county boards, featured no candidate at all. That means, absent a third-party, independent, or write-in candidate filing later in the process, it’ll be up to the local government boards to appoint someone to fill those vacancies.

Meaning voters get no voice at all.

We do not denigrate the quality of the candidates who stepped up, and we appreciate their willingness to serve, but we believe politicians perform better when they know they have to answer to voters.

When they need only their own support, they may feel no pressure to answer to voters’ will.

That’s bad for democracy.

There’s still time for third-party and independent candidates to appear on the fall ballot, and we urge Northeast Michiganders to consider signing up so voters have a choice and candidates can feel some pressure.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)