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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Elyse Mendel, Member of the Public, on the right of independent voters to participate in primaries
1:15:01
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167 sec
Elyse Mendel, a retired CUNY employee and an independent voter, testifies in favor of open primaries, expressing her belief that party allegiance is unhelpful and that focus should be on issues and electing competent individuals.
She feels disenfranchised by her inability to vote in New York City's primary elections, which often determine the ultimate winner, despite paying taxes that fund these elections.
Mendel urges the commission to put open primaries on the ballot, asserting it's critical for democracy and the betterment of the city.
Elyse Mendel
1:15:01
Hi there.
1:15:02
Okay.
1:15:03
So first, thanks for the opportunity to testify.
1:15:06
This is the first time I've ever done anything like this before in my life.
1:15:10
My name is yes.
1:15:12
And my name is Elise Mendell, and I live in Brooklyn.
1:15:16
And I'm retired from CUNY.
1:15:18
I worked there for thirty years, and I now work as an emotional development coach.
1:15:23
And I've been an independent voter ever since I've registered to vote by by Jan here.
1:15:29
I don't feel that having an allegiance to a party is helpful in supporting the growth of the American people, and I don't wanna have to be affiliated with the party.
1:15:39
I wanna be affiliated with the American people.
1:15:43
And I believe what's growthful is focusing on the issues and working to elect people that can make, you know, what we need and what we want to make that happen.
1:15:53
And I feel deeply that people deserve to get what they need to leave a to live a decent life.
1:16:00
I'm a slow down.
1:16:01
Sorry.
1:16:02
And that that goes beyond party politics.
1:16:06
And that part of what people need is the capacity to shape policies and programs in their city, and they need to be able to participate in every election.
1:16:17
And here's the problem.
1:16:19
My capacity to express my beliefs is totally blocked.
1:16:25
In a city where, as as was mentioned, the primaries are almost always determined, determines the winner, I can't vote, and I'm I'm I'm locked out.
1:16:36
And I worked in you know, for the city for thirty years, and all my taxes, you know, were taken out.
1:16:42
And I pay my taxes every year, and that supports elections that I can't participate in.
1:16:50
So I I feel this is a critical issue, and, I'm one of those 1,100,000 independent voters, you know, in this city.
1:17:02
And I think we have the right to to vote in in in the elections.
1:17:06
And, again, especially when the primaries do really determine, you know, who's gonna be running in the general, and, you have the power to do something about that.
1:17:16
And you could put this issue on the ballot, in November, and and I think that's urgent for democracy.
1:17:25
It's urgent, for the the betterment of the city.
1:17:30
And I I really believe in all New Yorkers have the right to to vote and not have to be have to join the party as a prerequisite to participate in democracy.
1:17:42
So thank you so much.
Richard Buery
1:17:44
Thank you so much.
1:17:44
And for your first time doing that, that was excellent.
Elyse Mendel
1:17:46
Oh, thank you so much.
Richard Buery
1:17:48
Thanks.