Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gwen Mandell, Director of Leadership Development at Organization of Open Primaries, advocating for open primaries
2:13:39
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170 sec
Gwen Mandell, Director of Leadership Development at the Organization of Open Primaries, testifies in strong support of open primaries in New York City.
She argues that the current closed system prevents over a million independent voters, including a large proportion of younger voters and voters of color, from participating in the most critical round of voting. Mandell emphasizes that independents choose their status for valid reasons and should not be forced to join a party to vote in taxpayer-funded elections, advocating for a simple change to let all independents vote.
- Over 1 million NYC voters are prevented from voting in primaries because they are registered as independent.
- A significant portion of these independent voters are young people and people of color.
- Mandell argues that forcing independents to join a party to vote is undemocratic and disrespectful to their choice.
- Advocates for a straightforward open primary system to allow all registered voters to participate.
Gwen Mandell
2:13:39
Go right ahead.
2:13:40
Hello, commission members.
2:13:42
I'm really happy that the Charter Revision Commission is considering the current way our candidates are elected in New York City.
2:13:50
Currently, over 1,000,000 voters are prevented from participating in the most critical round of voting, the first round, because we choose to be independent.
2:13:58
I am one of those voters.
2:14:01
And I'm offended, quite frankly, when I've received various solicitations maintaining that I should change my registration in order to vote in one of the primaries.
2:14:10
I have chosen to be independent for a reason.
2:14:13
So have millions of other independents, those who are registered as such, and the many who grudgingly choose a party because it's the only way they get to vote.
2:14:22
The numbers, by the way, who identify as independent nationally are between 4050% of the population according to the latest Gallup polls.
2:14:30
We should not have to choose a party in order to participate in taxpayer funded elections.
2:14:36
I'm independent because I believe that not being beholden to a party is the best way to choose candidates that will prioritize our democracy and have the best interests of New York City residents rather than the interests of their party.
2:14:50
We have a system that has quashed the innovation quashed innovation and produced elected officials who don't work on behalf of our city's residents.
2:15:00
Having elected officials who are rubber stamps for their party has led to bad public policy.
2:15:05
Having an open system where the best candidates are considered on their merit will create a better functioning and healthier city.
2:15:12
We have elections where millions of people don't vote, not only those of us registered independents who are unable to participate in the primaries, but also millions of others who don't believe their vote is gonna have an impact in the current state of affairs and who are losing faith in our democracy.
2:15:27
Increasing increasingly, these are young voters and voters of color who will make up a large block of New York City independence.
2:15:34
I'm a leader of independence.
2:15:35
I'm director of leadership development at the Organization of Open Primaries, and also a founder of a highly successful national spokesperson training for independence.
2:15:44
I've talked to thousands of independents over the years.
2:15:47
And while they vary in their reasons for being independent, whether it's because they want to elect the candidate of their choice or they don't believe the current system is working or any number of other reasons, they're typically passionate about their independence.
2:16:03
Despite what the media and pundits report, these are educated and informed voters who can make a difference in bettering our democracy.
2:16:10
We need open primaries now in New York so that we can have competitive, healthy elections where all voters can participate.
2:16:17
One final note, as you explore different forms of open primaries, I would ask that you don't make complicated and unpassable what is very simple.
2:16:26
Just let independents vote.
2:16:28
Let's do it now.