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Q&A

Commissioner Leila Bozorg and John Avlon discuss the merits of fully open primaries versus semi-open systems

0:19:58

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85 sec

Commissioner Leila Bozorg asks John Avlon about the benefits of a fully open primary system compared to other models, such as party-specific primaries open to unaffiliated voters. Avlon argues that a fully open primary, where everyone votes in the first round using ranked-choice voting and the top candidates move to the general election, is less susceptible to strategic manipulation (gaming the system) than semi-open primaries.

He believes this approach levels the playing field and is the best way forward for New York City.

Leila Bozorg

0:19:58

Hi.

0:19:59

Thank you both for joining us.

0:20:00

I'm curious, given the amount of, thought you both put into this, why what do you see as the benefits of the fully open primary versus some of the other systems we've seen, like the party specific primaries that are open to unaffiliated voters.

0:20:15

Could you talk a little bit, particularly for from both your, and the perspective of Citizens Union on that?

0:20:21

Sure.

Sharon Greenberger

0:20:21

It'd be helpful.

John Avlon

0:20:22

I I I think when you when you speak to many people involved in politics, the argument that they will make against this, ignoring the experience of the vast majority of American cities, is they're afraid that people will try to game the system.

0:20:34

Right?

0:20:35

That is particularly, I I think, a scenario which may have a shred of credibility, though I actually disagree with that, in a semi open primary system.

0:20:44

Right?

0:20:45

Whereas if you open it to everybody and have people run with their party affiliation, but everybody gets to vote in the first round using ranked choice vote.

0:20:54

And then in the general election, it's a clear choice whether it's top two or you would use ranked choice voting with top four, and I know you're looking at both.

0:21:01

I think that simply it is ungameable in the way that I think some people who are trying to defend the status quo might fear or argue.

0:21:09

I think actually semi open primaries is more inclined to that outcome.

0:21:14

So I actually think that just opening the process, leveling the field, fair and open to everyone is the best way to go for our city.

0:21:21

Representative elections have representative results.

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Commissioners question John Avlon and Randy Peers on the timing and implications of open primary reform

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Discussion on the optimal number of candidates advancing from an open primary and the role of ranked-choice voting