Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sheryl Williams, Member of the Public, on closed primaries as voter suppression and the need for open primaries
1:17:34
·
3 min
Sheryl Williams, a longtime New York City resident and independent voter, questions why every registered voter cannot vote in every election, calling closed primaries a quiet form of voter suppression that dampens enthusiasm and limits choice. She recounts an encounter with former Comptroller Scott Stringer, who suggested she change her registration to participate, which she found indicative of a broken system.
Williams argues that new ideas and voices are being shut out and that she is not interested in playing party games. She asserts that open primaries and the right to vote in all tax-payer-funded elections are basic democratic fairness.
Sheryl Williams
1:17:34
Good evening, commissioners.
1:17:36
My name is Cheryl Williams.
1:17:38
I'm a longtime resident of New York City and a proud independent voter.
1:17:44
I'm here today to ask a simple but fundamental question.
1:17:49
Why can't register every registered voter in New York City vote in every election?
1:17:57
We talk a lot about democracy in this country, government of, by, and for the people.
1:18:05
But what kind of democracy excludes over 1,100,000 of its own citizens from the first round of decision making.
1:18:16
Closed primaries are a quiet form of voter suppression.
1:18:22
They don't shout, but they shut out.
1:18:26
They dampen enthusiasm, limit choice, and reinforce a status quo that keeps too many people disillusioned and disengaged.
1:18:39
I recently had a chance encounter with former controller Scott Stringer.
1:18:46
One of his campaign aids asked if I wanted to meet him.
1:18:50
I said, sure.
1:18:52
Mister Stringer greeted me warmly, but then when I raised the issue of open primaries of letting all voters vote in every election, he started to talk over me stating, everyone can vote in the general election.
1:19:07
Of course, we can.
1:19:09
But by then, the chose the choices have already been narrowed.
1:19:15
Mister Stringer suggested that maybe I should change my registration.
1:19:21
That suggestion that I change who I am to fit into a broken system is part of what's wrong.
1:19:32
New ideas and new voices are trying to be heard, and the doors keep getting slammed shut.
1:19:40
As a citizen, I'm not interested in kissing rings or playing party games.
1:19:48
I want a system that respects the people first, Open primaries, the right to vote, and all elections paid by paid for by tax dollars are not a radical idea.
1:20:04
They're a basic expression of democratic fairness.
1:20:08
So in closing, commissioners, I urge you, use this charter revision process to affirm the sovereignty of the people, not the convenience of political prop parties.
1:20:23
Access to voting is a civil rights issue.
1:20:27
It's due process.
1:20:29
It's about equal protection, Rule in favor of participation.
1:20:35
Rule in favor of transparency.
1:20:38
Rule in favor of New Yorkers.