Open primaries will aid local democracy

New York needs open primaries now – and not for the reason you might think.

The open primaries would emanate more than a million voters from New York, who are disproportionately and represent communities of colors. This is the conclusion of a new report written by the former American general prosecutor Loretta Lynch on behalf of the Charter Revision Commission.

The open primaries would allow all New Yorkers to have an equal voice in the selection of their next mayor. This would encourage candidates to reach out to all communities from the start of their campaign.

The Charter Revision Committee is currently planning to put primaries open to the ballot this fall. But following the upset victory of Zohran Mamdani in the democratic primary, there was a political decline in partisan activists trying to kill this reform.

The reason to support this reform has nothing to do with the results of this democratic primary. In fact, given that 50% of independent voters in New York are under 40 years of age and in a disproportionate way to colored communities, according to an analysis by the New York City Campaign Finance Board, this could have led to an even greater and more convincing victory for Mamdani, considering its success to produce this electorate segment.

But that would certainly have made Mamdani’s victory even more convincing and representative. Because for all the gradual excitement of his victory, Mamdani won only 10% of all the registered voters in New York in the first round of the Democratic primary. It is not a stable base to elect a mayor for the remaining 90% of the city.

The New York General Electoral Scenario is now faced with this reform so urgent. This fall, we could have up to five candidates on the ballot: Mamdani, the Republican Curtis Sliwa with the self -employed Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo and Jim Walden.

The general elections see a higher participation rate than closed partisan primaries, as is equal year elections – a welcome addition to the slate of electoral reform of this charter revision. But the dynamic of this year’s race makes it likely that the winning candidate for the mayor will not have the support of a majority of New Yorkers – which puts pressure on the following legitimacy and ability to unify the city outside the door.

There is a better way. In fact, more than 80% of large American cities use a form of primary or non -partisan open elections.

The open primaries would allow all voters, whatever the party, to have an equal voice using the classified choice vote. The commission says they always request comments from this proposal, in which the two main votes of votes would compete during the general elections. It is the most democratic way to choose a mayor.

Some will say that this problem requires a more in -depth study. It’s superimposed. This question has been studied for decades and implemented in the vast majority of cities. The delay is denial – but the desired result of people who wish to maintain the status quo in place.

Unfortunately, the members of the Charter Revision Commission have received political arguments to the effect that their other primordial objective of facilitating the construction of housing will be opposed by groups such as the party of workers’ families if they advance with open primaries.

This is contrary to Mamdani’s declared objective to combat the affordability crisis. In addition, AOC and Bernie Sanders pleaded for non -partisan primaries in New York to increase the participation and representation rate.

There is an additional irony here: some of the same people who compete against the open primaries argued that New York should allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. It is a contradiction.

And to put the political influence in perspective, the party of workers’ families has 20,000 members registered in New York – a quarter of 1% of the total population. In addition, this charter review commission could decide to divide its proposals, allowing electoral reforms and housing proposals to judge their advantages by voters.

The results of the Democratic primary actually make the arguments of the open primary more urgent. Not because it would have changed the result, but because it would allow more young voters and more diverse communities to participate in the process outside the door. This would create more equitable and open elections while increasing the legitimacy of the mandate of the newly elected mayor to represent all New Yorkers. It’s time to let the voters decide on this crucial reform.

Avlon is the president of Citizens Union, fighting for reform in New York for more than a century.