Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Linda DiGusta supporting open primaries for inclusivity and dialogue
3:17:53
·
53 sec
Linda DiGusta briefly testifies in support of open primaries, noting New York City is unique among ranked-choice voting jurisdictions for maintaining closed primaries. She argues opening primaries is necessary to include all voters, improve candidate choices, and foster cross-party dialogue to counter excessive partisanship.
- Highlights NYC's status as an outlier using RCV with closed primaries.
- Believes open primaries foster inclusivity and better dialogue.
Linda DiGusta
3:17:53
Okay.
3:17:54
I'm here now.
3:17:54
I'm not on camera.
3:17:55
I'm just, on voice.
3:17:58
Can you hear me?
Richard R. Buery Jr.
3:17:59
Yes.
3:17:59
We can.
Linda DiGusta
3:18:01
Thank you.
3:18:02
My name is Linda.
3:18:03
I live in Manhattan and participate in the activities of Unite New York.
3:18:07
I would love to see open primaries on the ballot and, of course, adopt it.
3:18:10
We are now the only ranked choice voting jurisdiction that does not hold open primaries.
3:18:15
Fact is we need people to vote.
3:18:17
Right now, we shut out at least a million people from primaries and the general election presents inadequate options as a result.
3:18:24
It's time to engage more voters with an inclusive dynamic and engaging process beginning with an open primary and carrying through to the general election.
3:18:32
I hope and believe that opening the primaries can be a learning tool to move us in the direction of real dialogue across party lines and heal the rift that we see now rather than continue in the direction of a society that is pathologically partisan.
3:18:45
Thank you.