This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I am one of the sponsors of the Count My Vote initiative, which moves us to direct primary elections in an effort to increase voter participation. I keep hearing that the initiative eliminates the political parties' caucus and convention system.

That is wrong.

If the initiative passes, political parties will likely continue their caucuses and conventions to select delegates who will endorse candidates. The parties and candidates can then publicize their endorsements.

The difference with the initiative is that candidates would access the primary election ballot by being nominated by their fellow party voters, rather than a small handful of delegates. All party voters would then be able to vote for their chosen candidate in a direct primary election.

The initiative would open up what has traditionally been a rather closed system of selecting candidates for the final election, thus giving Utahns greater say in who represents them.

Stephen W. Owens

Salt Lake City