A Typology for Nonpartisan Elections

Abstract

ATNO TIME since the beginning of the use of nonpartisan elections, Shas there been an attempt to integrate this particular part of the elections process into the total pattern of American politics. Most of the authors of the textbooks in state and local government or political parties make some mention of the use of the nonpartisan ballot, but their comments make it clear that little material is available upon which to make generalizations. The writer of one popular textbook on political parties makes no reference to nonpartisanship at all.2 Yet this type of ballot cannot be dismissed lightly. It is used for 61 per cent of the elections of councilmen in cities of over 5,000 population. In smaller communities the percentage is probably higher and, in addition, various other officials judges, school board members, township and county officials and legislators are sometimes selected through use of the nonpartisan ballot. The total number of offices filled by this method is probably equal to more than one-half of the total number in the United States. Whenever nonpartisan elections are mentioned in textbooks or in reform literature, they are usually glossed over lightly. The textbook writer is hamstrung by a lack of research, or at least of publishing, and can do little more than to note that this type of ballot has probably resulted in the elimination of political party activity in many elections, but that this situation is not universal and that nonpartisan elections do not actually guarantee nonpartisanship. The reform literature almost invariably defends this type of ballot, arguing from strong conviction and weak empirical data that political parties can and should be eliminated from local elections where they have no proper place. Little more information is to be found.