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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Christine Helm, Member of the Public, supporting open primaries for greater democratic participation
0:43:57
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164 sec
Christine Helm, a longtime independent voter, testifies in favor of open primaries, arguing that more citizen participation in choosing leaders strengthens democracy. She draws parallels between the current exclusion of independents and historical restrictions on voting rights for African American men and women, advocating for continued expansion of the democratic process.
Helm highlights that if she chooses not to join a party, she is locked out of a critical stage of the election process, as candidates are chosen without her input. She notes that 22% of New York City's voters are unaffiliated, with 49% of those being under 40.
Christine Helm
0:43:57
Hello.
0:43:58
My name is Christine Helm.
0:44:00
Again, also a long time independent voter.
0:44:04
First, thank you.
0:44:05
I'm delighted that the commission is listening to independent voters and hopeful that we will one day have open primaries here in the city.
0:44:15
For me, it's simple.
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In a democracy, the more that we citizens can participate in choosing our leaders, the better.
0:44:23
And the closer we come to the assertion in our declaration of independence that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
0:44:32
In our system, consent of the governed become comes via voting.
0:44:37
We have a history in this country of both expanding and restricting access to the vote.
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When slavery was abolished, the fifteenth amendment enfranchised African American men.
0:44:47
Hooray.
0:44:49
And as we know, immediately, literacy tests, poll taxes were put into place to restrict that vote.
0:44:56
Finally, thanks to the courage and persistence of the civil rights movement, in 1965, congress passed the Voting Rights Act intended to eliminate voter suppression efforts.
0:45:08
Another expansion.
0:45:09
It's hard to believe now that it wasn't until 1920, my grandmother was 35, that women had the right to vote.
0:45:18
A suffrage amendment did not pass the House of Representatives until 1919, then was ratified in 1920.
0:45:25
And that is also the result of a long and arduous struggle, decades of activism and protest.
0:45:32
Let's keep opening the process.
0:45:35
Our elections are mediated by private political parties to the extent that some elections are private, but paid for with my tax dollars.
0:45:44
And if I choose not to join a party to be an independent voter, I'm locked out of a critical stage of the election process.
0:45:53
Candidates are chosen without my input.
0:45:55
For a New Yorker, once the primaries are over, casting my vote is of little consequence.
0:46:01
The real competition happens in the primary rather than the general election.
0:46:06
I'm not alone.
0:46:08
As you know, 22 of city's voters are unaffiliated, And what concerns me most is that 49% of those independent voters are under the 40.
0:46:19
While I support the right of people to join parties and parties to support candidates, a growing number of citizens are dissatisfied with the parties, with partisanship, and are choosing to be independent.
0:46:31
Let's make sure they're included.
0:46:34
Let's give all the governed the means to consent.
0:46:40
Thank you.
Sharon Greenberger
0:46:40
Thank you both so very much.