Unite NY Fact Sheet: Four Out Of Five Support Open Primaries in New York City
Unite New York
Key findings from Unite NY’s last Voter Empowerment Index (VEI) show that 80 percent of New York City residents support open primaries, a noteworthy statistic following the Charter Revision Commission’s proposal to add open primaries for New York City to the ballot this November.
“Open primaries are wildly popular with the residents of New York City, and we’re encouraged to see the Charter Revision Commission’s proposal aligned with what voters want,” noted Tim Hoefer, interim executive director of Unite NY. “Despite the opposition from special interest groups who are afraid of losing influence, this is a no-brainer for anyone who cares about making sure the citizens of New York City are the ones who have the influence. Bravo to the Commissioners!”
Open Primaries are one of Unite NY’s five pillars of change that would help create a more democratic process in New York.
What New York City Residents Say
When asked about different primary systems:
- 80% prefer an open primary system
- 41% favor a primary system where all candidates are on one ballot
- 38% favor being able to choose which primary to vote in, regardless of party affiliation
- Only 20% favor maintaining closed primaries
When asked if independent and unaffiliated voters should be able to participate in primaries:
- 70% support an open primary system
- 38.4% Strongly Support
- 31.5% Somewhat Support
- Only 10.3% oppose
Why This Matters in New York City
New York is one of only 10 states that still use a closed primary system, effectively disenfranchising 3.5 million independent or unaffiliated citizens statewide, including more than 1 million in New York City.
Open primaries would ensure that all taxpayers who fund elections can fully participate, regardless of party affiliation.
More Resources from Unite NY:
