A June date does make sense. We encourage the State Legislature to seriously consider a single date for both the state and federal primaries that month. It would allow the men and women of the armed forces who are out of the country a chance to participate in the democratic process they are protecting, it would eliminate confusion among voters — who, after all, vote for both state and federal candidates on a single day in November — and it would save millions of dollars, money that could be put to better use by counties on parks, roads, police departments, senior citizens and other matters of public good.

Yes, a June primary date would mean that candidates for state races would have to gather signatures and file their nominating petitions sooner. A Republican senator argued that moving the primary up would disrupt legislative proceedings by forcing incumbents to gather signatures in March for the nominating petition. While March is a crucial time in state budget proceedings, we believe the cost savings of a single primary far outweigh the perceived inconvenience for sitting lawmakers.

While it’s too late to change the primary dates for this year, it is an issue that should be addressed for the future. There is no reason that state and federal primaries can’t be done together. The two-primary system is a waste of taxpayer money. State leaders must come together and agree on a single date for both in 2016 and beyond.