Why Open Primaries?

40% of the American electorate now identify as independents. While increasing numbers of Americans reject party politics, our electoral process is still regulated by the two parties. The electorate is changing, and our process must change to reflect the make up and preferences of American voters.

Closed primaries have small voter turnouts and are dominated by party loyalists and ideologically driven constituencies. Thus a small segment of the electorate determines who gets to run in the general election.

Open primaries encourage candidates with a broad appeal, who favor pragmatic rather than partisan solutions. They allow for the development of new coalitions of voters and candidates.

Closed primaries favor candidates who are supported by the party establishment and make it nearly impossible for insurgents and new leaders to win elections.

33 states allow independents to vote in presidential primaries; 17 states do not. Only 21 states allow independents to vote in Congressional primaries. Independents should be guaranteed full voting rights in all federal elections.

The 2008 elections demonstrated that most Americans want to move beyond partisanship and toward a non-ideological, problem-solving orientation in government. Open primaries are an important step in that direction.