The annual East Lansing primary election is on the chopping block and we're hoping voters swing the hatchet. On Nov. 4, East Lansing voters will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to keep the August primary elections. Because of a lack of votes and candidates, Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh proposed eliminating the primaries two years ago.

In April, council members unanimously voted to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot. If the motion passes, the only primaries held in East Lansing will occur every even year for state and national elections.

There is obviously not much interest in voting in East Lansing, especially for primary elections. Getting rid of primaries will save a trip to the polls for those who actually do vote. For those who haven't voted in the past, hopefully it will encourage them to participate in the future.

Another good reason for scrapping the primaries is because of its bad timing. As it occurs in August of every year, most of the student population is not around and therefore cannot participate.

It also will allow more people to get their names on the ballot, such as MSU students Joey Marcus and Jared Rapp who are currently running as write-ins for this year's city council election.

The city will save an estimated $20,000 if residents vote to eliminate the primaries. This is money that could go to better causes than printing ballots and renting space for polls.

One alternative to completely eliminating primary elections would be to change the time at which they occur every year.

It would make more sense for the primaries to happen at a time when the entire population is here than in August when East Lansing is still a ghost town.

Moving the primary date to the fall was voted on in September 1995, but the motion failed by 360 votes.

Putting the primary up for debate on the ballot is meant to encourage more student voter participation. But students still need to go to the polls to make a difference regardless of the primaries.