EDITORIAL: Uncontested primary races not always ideal

Apr. 20—Uncontested races not always a good thing.

There will not be much drama at the local level as Cass County residents wait for the results of the Indiana primary election on May 7.

With nine races at the county level, only one is being contested as four Republican candidates vie for three at-large seats on the Cass County Council. Not one Democrat has registered to run in any of the county races, meaning most of our county leadership for 2025 is decided.

This can be a bit concerning for those who value choice.

With many incumbents running for reelection for positions they are very familiar with, the issue is not about the qualifications of the candidates. These candidates should be applauded for wanting to be public servants.

We need more like-minded people to answer that call. Healthy competition can result in a lot of positives like raising voter participation and bringing more discourse. If there's no race, there's no debate.

According to Ballotpedia, there have been 7,325 primary elections in 37 states through March 2024. Of that total, 5,517 (75%) were uncontested. This is the same rate as 2020, which was also 75%. Ballotpedia noted these are the highest numbers it has reported through March since data collection began in 2018. The lowest rate recorded through March was 38% in 2019.

Here are a few downsides to having uncontested elections:

Less registered voters. When voters see the same names up for the same races with no competition, they're much less likely to vote.

Inadequate representation. When voters don't have at least two candidates from which to choose, they're less likely to feel government represents their needs and will be less likely to vote.

Stagnant governance. Challengers and new candidates can bring fresh ideas and energy, and can also cause incumbents to adapt and grow for the better. Electing the same people over and over could eventually instill a fear to change.

Despite the lack of contested local races, there are still plenty of reasons to vote in the primary, including contested races at the state and federal levels. Early voting is open every weekday up until May 7 at the Cass County Courthouse. Make sure your voice counts.