New York: Do the right thing; Adopt an open primary system

After the fallout of the New York presidential primary last week, and the ensuing insanity — revelations of purged voter records, protests at New York City Hall, a lawsuit calling for an emergency open primary and an investigation of the New York State Board of Elections by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman — one notion remains self-evident: that the state is in desperate need of primary reform.

Independent voters constitute 27.2% of the New York electorate, yet New York is one of the many states that remains wedded to an antiquated and undemocratic closed primary system in which only voters affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties may cast a ballot in the primary of their respective party.

{mosads}That means that over three million New Yorkers are prohibited from participating in the very bedrock of a democratic society, our civic duty and what allows us to exercise our right to political expression: voting.

More and more states have reformed and adopted new systems — whether it be top-two, open or nonpartisan primaries — and there is a clear and growing trend of unaffiliated voters across the country. In the most recent Gallup poll analyzing party affiliation nationwide, Independents comprised 44% of the electorate — more than either party (Democrats represented 31% and Republicans a paltry 25%). Compare that to a similar poll from April 2004, which found that 30% of voters were unaffiliated at the time.

The discrepancy is even more dire in New York City, where there are nearly twice as many registered Independents than Republicans. Yet, they cannot participate in any primary, including local and municipality races. Even the children of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, were barred from casting their ballots last week because they, like so many other New Yorkers, were unaware of the unfairly early change of party affiliation deadline (October 9) — over six months before the primary and the earliest of any state with a closed primary system.

Not that New York has ever been an exemplar of fairness, equality or democracy, but this primary is the first time in recent memory that the Empire State has played a decisive role in the nomination process, which is exactly why there was so much controversy over it. And clearly, given the surging support for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Donald Trump, the American people are sick of establishment politics.

New York owes its citizens the right to be a part of the democratic process. It’s home to some of the greatest thinkers and industry leaders in the world. The state has a responsibility, not just to its citizens, but to all those around the country — and the world — who look to it as a champion of business, finance, fashion and technology, to put its best foot forward and innovate once more: adopt an open primary system.

Shayne is a political journalist based in New York City.