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Q&A
Commissioner Julie Samuels and Susan Lerner discuss prioritizing engagement of independent voters through open primaries
2:17:18
·
81 sec
Commissioner Julie Samuels posits that if about two million registered Democrats consistently don't vote in primaries and there are 1.1 million independent voters, it might be easier to engage a significant fraction of these independents through open primaries, rather than continuing to struggle to reach the non-voting Democrats. She asks Susan Lerner why the city shouldn't pursue this "low-hanging fruit" if these independents want to vote in primaries but currently cannot.
Lerner responds that the question then becomes finding the simplest and easiest way to reach those voters.
Julie Samuels
2:17:18
Thank you.
2:17:19
I'll be quick.
2:17:19
It's mostly a statement, but I kinda I just wanna hear your response more than anything, Susan.
2:17:23
My feeling is if there's two mil as I understand, there's about 2,000,000 registered Democrats who consistently aren't voting in primaries.
Alice Rydel
2:17:29
Correct.
Julie Samuels
2:17:29
And the data is showing about 1,100,000 independent voters.
2:17:33
If those 2.2 are consistently not voting primary over primary, clearly, we're having a problem getting to them, whether it's the candidates, like you said, or whatever.
2:17:41
This if if untapping some significant fraction of this 1,100,000 is significantly easier because we're kind of banging our heads against the wall on this other 2,000,000, why shouldn't we go after if there's guess what I'm saying is if there's low hanging fruit of New Yorkers who want to vote in the primary and can't, shouldn't we make it easier for them?
Susan Lerner
2:18:02
So then it's a question of what is the simplest and easiest way to reach those voters.
2:18:07
And I would argue that the simplest and easiest way is a semi open primary, which, leaves the existing, party structure in place, has the fewest administrative changes, but allows for the unaffiliated voters to come in and participate.
2:18:24
And then it's a question of whether the candidates think it's worth their time to reach out to an unaffiliated voter when they're doing such a bad job of reaching out to the already registered.
2:18:34
And that is beyond, I think, all of our crystal ball ability.
John Avlon
2:18:38
Thank you.