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Q&A
Clarifying NAACP's concerns regarding different models of open primaries and Black vote dilution
1:06:05
·
4 min
Chair Richard Buery seeks clarification from Candace Prince-Modeste of the NAACP regarding her specific concerns about open primaries and potential Black vote dilution.
Buery distinguishes between opening existing party primaries (e.g., Democratic primary) to non-party members versus a single, non-party-specific primary open to all voters.
Prince-Modeste confirms her primary objection is to the former model—allowing non-Democrats to vote in a Democratic primary—as she believes this could dilute the Black vote within the party, and expresses a general concern that opening voting to
Richard Buery
1:06:05
Thank you so much.
1:06:07
Thank you for your testimony.
1:06:09
One thing I just wanna note is that part of our analysis, one of the things that we are doing about trying to evaluate whether there are any evidence for the idea that any of the changes to the primary rule is the effect of the dilution of the votes dilution of black vote, and as I think it required for under the state voting rights law.
1:06:28
So I appreciate you raising the issue, but, again, I think it under the fed.
1:06:31
I think we all wanna make sure that the decisions here are driven by data.
1:06:37
You know, we all have reasons to be concerned about movement, but I I think we can access that data.
1:06:42
And so, again, I'll just sort of repeat to the extent that you have data that suggests that is the case.
1:06:47
That would be helpful.
1:06:49
One of the things I do wanna clarify is and I think one of the things that we're hearing about is challenge with language because open primaries can be interpreted different ways.
1:07:00
And so I just wanna clarify your concern.
1:07:03
Is your concern primarily with the idea that opening up a democratic primary, for example, to nonregistered democrats would have a dilution of black women power as opposed to having a single primary, not Democratic Republican, but a single primary open to all voters.
1:07:25
Is your objection to the former or the latter or both?
Candace Prince-Modeste
1:07:28
So your first example, particularly because black voters are overwhelmingly registered democrat.
Richard Buery
1:07:35
But to clarify, the objection is not to having a single primary where anyone of any registration can vote, regardless of your primary or your party affiliation.
Candace Prince-Modeste
1:07:45
The so the I promise I'm not being difficult.
1:07:49
The ultimate objection is to not dilute the black vote.
1:07:52
So any mechanism which would do that whether on purpose or by accident, we would I I personally and obviously speaking from our organization would not.
1:08:02
Yeah.
1:08:02
So, again, I understand that there are lots of different models for open primaries, but certainly one that would allow voters who are not registered to a party to make decisions along with voters who are registered to that party, I believe, would further dilute the power of the black vote in New York City.
Richard Buery
1:08:20
Thank you.
1:08:20
Can I just ask it again?
1:08:21
Because I just wanna be clear from my I I think I, for one, would not be in favor of any rule that would dilute flag voting power.
1:08:28
So I I I wanna speak for my colleagues.
1:08:30
I'm pretty sure I understand what they were saying.
1:08:33
And so that's why I wanna get clear about different proposals, which operate differently.
1:08:37
Right.
1:08:37
So understand you to be saying, like, in the democratic primary.
1:08:43
In a world where we have we have today a democratic primary and republican primary, I understand you to have an objection to allowing nondemocrats to vote in a democratic primary for fear that that there could be all sorts of malpizent interference with the operation of that primary, if I understand that objection.
1:09:00
Okay.
1:09:01
I'm asking about a different model, which would not have a democratic primary or a republican primary.
1:09:07
It would simply be one don't even call the primary, just a a first round of voting where democrats could vote in that first one with Republican could vote, independents could vote, socialists could vote, conservatives could vote.
1:09:21
Is your objection to that model?
1:09:24
I understand what they've been had, but do you may be put differently.
1:09:26
Do you have a concern that that model would dilute black voting power?
Candace Prince-Modeste
1:09:31
To an extent, simply because black voters in New York City are affiliated voters.
1:09:39
And so take it for what it is.
1:09:42
But
Richard Buery
1:09:42
But they can still vote for that.
Candace Prince-Modeste
1:09:43
No.
1:09:44
Understand that they can still vote.
1:09:45
But when you I'm I'm worried that when you open it up to everybody, it creates the potential for the black vote to get lost in the sauce.
1:10:03
I'm sorry.
1:10:04
I will let me just to be perfectly clear, I'm I'm more familiar with the first example that you spoke about more so than the second example.
1:10:14
I think the first example is used where open primaries are.
1:10:17
I that first example is used more widely across the country, but I do wanna be able to come back
Richard Buery
1:10:22
to I don't know that this is really the case.
1:10:23
Mhmm.
1:10:23
I don't know that that's the case.
1:10:25
Okay.
1:10:25
But but I
Candace Prince-Modeste
1:10:26
appreciate familiar with the the first example.
Richard Buery
1:10:29
Yep.
1:10:29
Thank you so much.
1:10:30
I appreciate it.
Shams DaBaron
1:10:31
Can I can I
Carl Weisbrod
1:10:31
just follow-up on the chairman's question?