DEAR EDITOR:

It has become crystal clear with the recently Republican- approved redistricting map, anti-abortion bills, anti-marijuana changes, and many other recent bills, that they have no interest in what the voters want or what is in our best interest. To resolve this issue, we need a new approach. We need new political third parties on the ballot that will represent voters who are left out of the current two-party system that is failing us. Voting in multiple third-party candidates, including independents, will dilute the current “monopoly” on the legislature and force compromises on a range of issues. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult, by design, for a third party to gain ballot access under existing rules. Both the Democrats and Republicans have established the rules to maintain their monopoly on the ballot box. To solve that problem, we must change the rules! That can only be accomplished by placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot that makes it very simple and easy for third parties to gain ballot access for all levels of elections.

I am calling on groups that share frustration with the current situation to band together as you have done in the past to make this objective achievable. This can break the death grip the current two parties have on the ballot box and lead to a more representative government as our founding fathers intended.

Government for the people and by the people. For Ohio, this will be even more critical, as the current Ohio Republican-controlled Legislature is discussing closing primaries. That will result in many voters being excluded from the primary process, leaving us with only extreme left and extreme right choices. We must unite to pass a constitutional amendment to make it simple and easy for third parties to form and gain access. The current two-party system has failed us. It is time for a change.

TOM MATHIS

Wadsworth