I think they have some value at the local level, where there aren't ads up the wazoo all the time reminding us who to vote for. You know, like your city council, school board, etc. Giving those folks name recognition when someone is in the ballot box going "who are these people? Fuck it, I'll vote for that name I keep seeing on George's dooryard."

Here in Frederick, MD, they have the Apple Ballot. Put out by the teacher's union every year with their slate of preferred candidates for the school board. School board candidates don't have D or R beside their names, so having those available is very helpful to understand who is going to be doing work to help students learn, not help indoctrinate them into right-wing politics.