The Independent View: The Fight for Open Nonpartisan Primaries

From their ad:

"Democratic Action is fighting back against the state-by-state dismantling of voter rights, but time is running out for committed Dems to defend our voting rights before Election Day! Unless we act now, voters across the nation will face a maze of absurd restrictions just to cast their ballots – in fact, 16 states have new voter restrictions in 2016!"

But nowhere in their fight, is the acknowledgement of the inability of independents to take part in our political process without giving up their independence.

I am talking about closed state primary elections.

I want to vote for candidates not parties, but except for the current Nonpartisan "Top-Two" Primary states, all the other options would require me to select a party's ballot, removing the option to select my choice of candidates.

I support the concept of an Open Nonpartisan Primary process, but think Top-Two is not the answer. Some options are:

- Top-(you pick the number)
- Each major party, minor party, independent, and write-in, with the highest vote total
- Use Ranked-Choice Voting to find the winner

But with states like New York, where voters could have to go to the polls six times in 2016, it is time to eliminate Primaries, Caucuses, and just have a General Election with Ranked-Choice voting.

Voters will only have to go to the polls once and the states will reduce the cost of running elections.

To satisfy the Party's "Right of Association", there should be a separate ballot for party members to select their party officials.