Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Commissioners question John Avlon and Randy Peers on the timing and implications of open primary reform
0:16:30
·
3 min
Commissioner Diane Savino questions John Avlon and Randy Peers about the feasibility and timing of implementing open primaries, noting a previous attempt over two decades ago and the current trend of voters not enrolling in major parties. Avlon responds that the issue has been extensively studied, New York City is an outlier, and the current commission has done its homework, arguing against claims that it's a rush job.
Savino then asks Peers about his experience as an unaffiliated voter. Peers states he must be true to himself and questions the notion that one cannot register as an independent, suggesting it's an issue for state-level reform.
Diane Savino
0:16:30
Thank thank you both for for your testimony.
0:16:32
So I think, I'll start with you, John.
0:16:34
I have a question that maybe you can maybe you guys have considered at Citizens Union.
0:16:38
So twenty three years ago, I think, or twenty two years ago, the city attempted this, but that I always like to say that was then and this is now.
0:16:44
It's a very different city, a very different two party structure at the time as well.
0:16:49
And I always, like, also say that voters vote with their feet.
0:16:52
And what we've seen since then is more and more people are making a conscious decision to not enroll in one of the two major parties.
0:17:00
And in fact, more and more are not enrolling in a party at all.
0:17:03
And as we've seen, the city is partly primary's process has literally become the general election in New York City.
0:17:11
But there's a concern among some that perhaps we don't have enough time to consider this, that this is too monumental of a shift in New York City's politics and the way we govern to be able
Melissa Fisher
0:17:21
to take this on in
Diane Savino
0:17:22
a short period of time.
0:17:23
So I'm just wondering what your opinion is with respect to whether or not this is something that has been studied ad nauseam.
0:17:29
Can we possibly do it this year?
John Avlon
0:17:30
I appreciate it, miss Oviedo, and, thank you.
0:17:33
As you allude, this has been something that has been studied across the nation.
0:17:36
New York is the outlier.
0:17:37
The vast majority of American cities have some form of open primaries or nonpartisan elections.
0:17:42
As you indicate, this is something that charter revision commissions have looked at for the better part of this century.
0:17:48
And I do think the fact that we have fewer and fewer competitive general elections Mhmm.
0:17:53
It indicates the need.
0:17:55
Also, as you indicate, nationally as well as locally, more and more particularly younger voters are, choosing to register as independent, to not enroll in a political party.
0:18:05
Their voices should be heard.
0:18:06
And almost every conversation we have about elections, we say we ought to lower barriers to participation.
0:18:11
We gotta open the process.
0:18:12
Mhmm.
0:18:13
This is what that's about.
0:18:14
And anyone who's read your preliminary report, I don't think can credibly say this has not been a thoughtful, well considered, process.
0:18:22
Having served on charter vision commissions in the past, this charter vision commission has done its homework, and it builds on the work of past charter vision commissions.
0:18:29
We learned from the examples of so many other cities that it where it's proven its success.
0:18:33
So the idea that this is a rush job, that this hasn't been adequately studied, I think that is an argument effectively for keeping a broken status quo in place.
0:18:41
It may benefit people who benefit from that, but it doesn't actually benefit the vast majority of New Yorkers, including the 1,000,000 independents who are currently effectively disenfranchised in our city.
Sharon Greenberger
0:18:50
Thank you so much.
John Avlon
0:18:51
And I
Diane Savino
0:18:51
have one question for Randy.
0:18:52
So you're an individual who made a conscious choice that you did even though you you operate within the the government world in many respects, you made a conscious choice that you did not wanna enroll in a party.
0:19:03
When you made that decision, you obviously understood that you were gonna be shut out of the process, but I'm sure it's gotten harder and harder with each passing year that you feel that you have no role in the selection of your government.
Randy Peers
0:19:20
Yeah.
0:19:20
I'm also it's hard for me to be a phony, so I have to be true to myself.
Diane Savino
0:19:25
It's important in life.
Randy Peers
0:19:26
And and that's that's kinda how I live my life.
0:19:28
And, you know, look, on the timing thing, if not now, when?
0:19:31
Right?
0:19:31
We have to start this reform now.
0:19:34
I mean, the other thing I'll say while I got the mic is that the the notion that we can't register independent is ridiculous.
0:19:41
That has to be addressed on the state level.
0:19:43
But, I mean, I don't even think that's constitutional, to be quite honest.
0:19:46
But for whatever reason that the that the governor chose to disassociate with the word independent is is, to me, silly.
0:19:53
So that's another thing that we can look at for reform.
Sharon Greenberger
0:19:55
Thank you so much.