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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Karanjit Paul, Volunteer from Veterans for All Voters, on enfranchising independent voters and veterans through open primaries
1:21:45
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158 sec
Karanjit Paul, a Navy veteran and volunteer for Veterans for All Voters, testifies in support of open primaries, highlighting that he is one of 1.1 million independent voters in New York City currently excluded from primary elections.
He notes that many young voters and a majority of post-9/11 veterans identify as independents and are shut out of these crucial elections.
Paul urges the commission to adopt open primaries to create a system that reflects the city's diversity and respects the right of all New Yorkers, including veterans, to vote as they see fit.
Karanjit Paul
1:21:45
Thank you to the commission for the opportunity to share my voice today.
1:21:48
My name is Karen Jipal.
1:21:50
I'm a volunteer for Veterans for All Voters.
1:21:52
I proudly served as a navy corpsman for five years and helped build out the Javits Center Hospital in the city during the height of the COVID nineteen crisis.
1:22:01
I was also raised right in Queens about two blocks down there, and I've had the privilege of interning at the New York City's Mayor Office while pursuing my studies at John Jay College.
1:22:12
I'm also one of the 1,100,000 New Yorkers who identify as an independent voter, those who have chosen not to affiliate with any political party.
1:22:22
Like many veterans, my sense of service did not end when I left the military.
1:22:26
I still believe in giving back just now in a different form.
1:22:30
I see voting as one of the most essential responsibilities we have in a democracy.
1:22:36
But here in New York City, that responsibility isn't fully respected because I'm an independent.
1:22:41
I don't get a say in the election that often matter the most, the primaries.
1:22:46
Nearly half, 49%, of New York City's independent voters are under the age 40.
1:22:52
Young voters aren't apathetic.
1:22:54
We're either shut out of voting or opting out because the political system isn't working for us.
1:23:00
The same is true for the military community as well.
1:23:03
55% of post nine eleven veterans identify as independents, yet we're locked out of the same elections we serve to protect, elections that other veterans have sacrificed their life for.
1:23:15
In the military, I learned to work with people of every background.
1:23:19
We didn't ask who you voted for, where you came from.
1:23:22
We asked whether you showed up for each other, and I think these values are representative of how our democracy should work too.
1:23:31
When we talk about open primaries, we aren't talking about weakening parties.
1:23:34
We're talking about starting participation.
1:23:37
We're take we're talking about welcoming the voices of the next generation and the veterans and public servants who have already proven their commitment to our country.
1:23:46
When is it ever acceptable to limit competition, whether in business, ideas, or elections?
1:23:52
The answer is never, especially not in These United States.
1:23:55
This is a practice we should no longer accept.
1:23:58
New Yorkers deserve a system that reflects the city we serve, not one that shuts out over a million of us or forces the people of the city to align with candidates that they may not agree with in the future.
1:24:10
I urge you to keep open primaries on the table for it is not valid because our democracy deserves it.
1:24:16
We're not asking for anything special.
1:24:18
We're just asking that New Yorkers have the right to vote however they see fit.
1:24:22
Thank you.