In The News - Open Primaries

Open primaries for all

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 08, 2021 at 5:48 PM

written by Kevin Frazier for Statesman Journal

No national institution is perceived as honest by more than 2 in 10 Americans, as reported by More in Common via their Two Stories of Distrust in America report.

That lack of honesty is tied to a lack of trust. And, that lack of trust applies to our neighbors and our elected officials. For the average American, daily life requires being on guard: more than 6 in 10 Americans say “you can’t be too careful in dealing with people.” And, for most Americans, their relationship with their representative feels combative more so than collaborative: around 7 in 10 Americans feel like politicians view them as “problems to be solved” rather than “constituents to be served.”

End closed primaries

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 08, 2021 at 5:42 PM

written by the Editorial Board for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette

The Pennsylvania primary election is in the rearview mirror. It’s time now to look ahead to a structural change that will bring an end to a closed primary election system that disenfranchises prospective voters who are not members of the country’s two major parties.

Pennsylvania is among a handful of states that practice closed primaries, meaning that only Democrats and Republicans can cast ballots in the spring contest for candidates seeking major-party endorsement.

Voting rights alone will not save us

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 08, 2021 at 1:24 PM

written by Sandra Cosgrove for the Nevada Current

Much has been said and written about voting rights this last year and for good reasons. Vote Nevada, a nonprofit founded by Nevadans for Nevadans, will be contributing to this dialogue over the summer with events focused on our full suite of democracy rights, such as the right to fair representation and the right to engage in direct democracy. Because voting rights do not exist in a vacuum, protecting voting rights alone is insufficient to save our democracy; we must also ensure voters have the right to vote for fair representation through a diverse range of candidates, and to engage in governing activities without frivolous litigation.

Partisan vs nonpartisan elections is a false choice for Annapolis

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 08, 2021 at 1:15 PM

written by JH Snider for Capital Gazette

There has recently been much debate in The Capital’s opinion pages and at Annapolis’ Charter Review Commission on the comparative merits of partisan vs. nonpartisan elections for city offices. But this is a false choice because there are better ways to combine the benefits of both partisan and nonpartisan elections while creating a more competitive electoral system.

Semi-open primaries can help engage more voters

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 04, 2021 at 8:51 AM

The editorial board at the Bangor Daily News

We admit that we are traditionalists when it comes to election procedures. As a result, we’ve essentially defended the status quo when it comes to how elections are conducted.

But, as primaries have become more partisan at the same time that a significant number of voters, especially young voters, are choosing not to enroll in political parties, we find the arguments for more open primaries to be increasingly persuasive.

Bill to open primaries in Maine gains support from Olympia Snowe

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 01, 2021 at 5:18 PM

BY SCOTT THISTLE for Press Herald

A bill before the state Legislature that would allow unenrolled voters to vote in party primaries has gained the backing of former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican.

Partisan primaries deepen the political divide

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 01, 2021 at 11:20 AM

Opinion from Nelson Easterling in the Tallahassee Democrat

Think about this: There are millions of your fellow citizens who despise you and see you as a threat to themselves and to this nation. They do not know you, have never met you, but they still loathe you.

All they need to know is your partisan political preference.

PA LWV: End the closed primary in PA

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 01, 2021 at 10:39 AM

written by Terrie Griffin for GoErie.com

In the Pennsylvania primary election on May 18, almost 1.3 million voters were not allowed a say in choosing candidates for our highest courts, mayor of one of our largest cities, and many municipal elections that will affect our daily lives.

The Washington Post: Want to help resolve American political dysfunction? Allow open primary elections

Posted by Russell Daniels on June 01, 2021 at 12:02 AM

Opinion by Alan Novak and T.J. Rooney in The Washington Post

Alan Novak was chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party from 1996 to 2004. T.J. Rooney was chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 2003 to 2010 and a state representative from 1993 to 2006.

The list of politicians facing primary challenges in 2022 keeps growing. Republican Govs. Brian Kemp of Georgia, Greg Abbott of Texas and Mike DeWine of Ohio each will face challenges, as will Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for the sin of putting the American public over their party.

Laughlin, a potential gubernatorial candidate, said independents deserve voice in primaries

Posted by Russell Daniels on May 23, 2021 at 9:08 PM

written by Matthew Rink for Go Erie

As voters head to the polls Tuesday, state Sen. Dan Laughlin, a prospective Republican gubernatorial candidate, will reintroduce legislation that would allow independents to weigh in on partisan nominating contests.

646-205-0202

244 Madison Ave, #1106
New York, NY 10016

Open Primaries in the news