Editorial: Florida's political cockroaches return to wreak havoc in primary elections

They’re b-a-a-a-a-a-a-ck!

Write-in candidates — Florida’s political cockroaches — have resurfaced to wreak havoc in several of the state’s primary elections.

Much like their counterparts in the insect world, write-ins operate almost exclusively in the shadows. They venture into the sunlight just long enough to file paperwork, then disappear completely from view. After filing, most write-ins are never seen again: They don’t campaign, advertise or attend public forums.

However, they can inflict political damage on a massive scale.

In 2016, write-in candidates closed primary elections in 20 state House and Senate races, disenfranchising 1.6 million voters, according to the Times/Herald Tallahassee bureau.

Now, two years later, the slimy creatures are at it again.

State primaries closed

Only Democrats will be allowed to vote in the primary for state Senate District 30 in Palm Beach County, where Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, will face fellow Democrat Rubin Anderson.

Ditto for the primary election for state Senate District 34 in Broward County, where Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, will face fellow Democrat Jim Waldman.

In each race, a write-in candidate has closed the primary.

It’s a similar story in Florida House Districts 56, 61 and 62, where write-in candidates have closed primary elections to only Republicans in District 56 or Democrats in Districts 61 and 62.

All Florida voters are allowed to cast ballots in a primary race when candidates have no opposition outside the party. However, a write-in effectually closes the primary to all voters except those of the same party as the main candidates.

Fix it

This anomaly in state law gives rise to an array of specious political behaviors. In some cases, the supporter of an incumbent will file as a write-in or recruit someone else as a write-in to close the primary. In others, a friend or family member does the dirty work. 

At times during the past six months, it appeared the write-in loophole would be closed forever. But neither the Florida Legislature nor the Constitution Revision Commission marshaled the requisite courage to fix our elections system.

A bill filed during the 2018 legislative session to end the write-in provision garnered little support. The Constitution Revision Commission — which meets every 20 years to update the state’s governing document — completed its business in April, denying Floridians the chance to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to close the loophole.

It’s unconscionable voters still are being turned away from primary elections because of this egregious provision in state law.

What is the solution?

“The permanent solution is to find a group of concerned donors who will fund a ballot initiative,” said Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who crafted the proposed constitutional amendment rejected by the Constitution Revision Commission. “To get something on the ballot takes money, probably seven figures.”

Aronberg is confident voters would pass a proposed amendment to close the loophole — if given the chance.

“These scams thrive in secrecy, under the cloak of darkness, where no one talks about them,” he said. “They are created by the very candidates we all end up voting for.” 

Stay tuned. This fight is far from over.

Treasure Coast Newspapers and the Daily News are part of the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida.