Dear Editor:

Gerrymandering assures that extremists in one party control primaries and elections — in turn making functional government today nearly impossible. Until gerrymandering is eliminated through non-partisan drawing of electoral districts, I support open primaries. They are our best hope — along with Ranked Choice Voting — of breaking the stranglehold of extremists from both parties on our elections.

In both cases — open primaries and RCV — candidates must appeal to a broad range of voters to win, not just a small segment of ideologues. With broad constituent backing, winners are freed up to vote with reason and compromise to get the nation's business done, the essence of republican (little “r”) government.

Hamilton Meserve

Southport