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Q&A
Why a nonpartisan top-two primary system is preferred
1:48:12
·
117 sec
Commissioner Leila Bozorg asks Dr. Jessie Fields of Open Primaries about her preference for a top-two system over other models like top-four or semi-open primaries.
Dr. Fields responds that she likes the top-two nonpartisan model because it is truly voter-centric and allows for collaboration across party lines.
She believes it empowers all voters to choose from all candidates, freeing them from a structure that may not fully represent them.
- Dr. Fields explains her support for the nonpartisan top-two model, stating it puts voters, not parties, in control.
- She believes it encourages coalition-building and dialogue across ideological lines.
- She shares anecdotes from voters who told her they only register with a party so they can vote in the primary, not because they agree with the party platform.
Annemarie Gray
1:48:12
Doctor.
1:48:12
Phil, could you talk a
Leila Bozorg
1:48:13
little bit more about, your emphasis on on top two over top four or even semi open, primaries?
Dr. Jessie Fields
1:48:21
Well, I I think the important thing clearly is that an unaffiliated voters be included and empowered.
1:48:28
The form nonpartisan top two elections, I think I like a lot because it is nonpartisan and it allows the voters to decide who will go on to the general election, all the voters.
1:48:41
It gives an opportunity for voters to choose to vote for a Democrat, an independent, working families party, whatever.
1:48:48
You know, you you have a you have a mixture of people to vote for.
1:48:52
And and I think one of the things that I think is important about it also is it it's an opportunity to build a coalition's dialogue, you know, collaboration across party and ideological lines, which I think is very important for our country and for our city right now.
1:49:11
So it's it's truly nonpartisan.
1:49:14
That is the parties are not in control.
1:49:16
It doesn't eliminate parties, but but it it it gives you a way you know, people have people are very diverse.
1:49:21
Even within the Democratic Party, I spent a lot of time on primary day speaking to people about the need the the fact that I couldn't vote because I'm an independent, and would they support changing the process and opening it up?
1:49:34
And a lot of people I spoke to said, I know what you mean.
1:49:37
I'm registered in the Democratic Party so that I can vote in the primary.
1:49:41
Not because I agree with everything.
1:49:43
In fact, I don't.
1:49:44
But I wanna be able to vote in the primary.
1:49:46
I didn't.
1:49:46
I wasn't registered the primary and I went to vote and I couldn't vote.
1:49:50
I learned my lesson.
1:49:51
There were so many people who said that to me.
1:49:53
I think we should free all the people, all the the party members and the independents to be able to vote the way that that that they want to, not because they're forced into a structure that doesn't represent them.
1:50:06
Did did I answer your question?
1:50:08
I'm not sure.