I agree with the result but deplore the undemocratic statute that led
to it.

My agreement stems only from the fact that a vote for Ralph Nader is
tantamount to a vote for Bush.

If the two major parties agree on one thing, it is that they and only
they should be able to nominate candidates with a chance of election.

It does not have to be so. Pennsylvania and all other states should
adopt instant runoff voting, which lets voters rank candidates in
order of preference. Under that system, if no candidate wins a
majority vote, the one with the lowest first-choice total is
eliminated, and the vote is recounted immediately, using the second
choices of his or her voters and the process is repeated until
someone has a majority.

The voter could select an independent candidate without fear that the
vote would effectively count for a candidate he or she diametrically
opposes. More voices would be heard and the major parties would
listen more closely to the voice of the people.

John A. O'Brien
Lafayette Hill