Historically, parties have opposed opening their primaries to non-members because of the threat of them choosing a representative that the members of the party do not want. Additionally, party leaders are afraid members of the other party will vote in their primary in order to select the weaker candidate and win in the general election.
While studies by political scientists have shown that the number of voters who act that way remains low, the parties have successfully argued in may occasion that their right of private association under the First Amendment allows them to keep their primaries private.
While this argument is completely valid, it ignores one dilemma: parties are arguing that they are private organizations to keep the primaries closed, but fund these primaries with taxpayer money.
If using public funds for the primaries was justified as providing a public benefit in the past, this argument is less compelling today.
When up to 50 percent of registered voters are disenfranchised from participating in primary elections that they have funded with their tax dollars, it might be time to reform the system.
A number of solutions are available to solve this problem.
The parties can choose to open their primaries in order to allow unaffiliated voters to cast a vote under the same rules as party members. States can also adopt a nonpartisan primary system in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, are on one ballot and a fixed number of them move to the general election.
A third and more innovative alternative is conceivable:
Prohibit the use of public tax dollars to fund partisan activities, especially partisan primaries. Under this system, the parties will retain the right to organize primaries as they choose, but will have to fund them with their own funds.
So this primary year, voters designated as independent, no party preference, or blank, will take part in a "Voters Rights are Primary" campaign in 22 states.
The details of each picket will look different from state to state, but activists will be communicating with the public and media about ways that independents are excluded from participating in the all-important primary process.
If you'd like to join the campaign, whether it's participating in a picket or writing a letter to the editor, email
national@independentvoting.org.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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