To re-engage voters, open party primaries

Chris Churchill brings up some excellent points in his recent column (“Changes for NYC, Buffalo but not Albany,” June 29) concluding that the “staggering lack of interest” from voters demonstrates that people see government as irrelevant.

Why? Because voter — and candidate — disenfranchisement keeps turnout and civic engagement low. We operate under a political system where too much power lies with party bosses and not enough power resides in the hands of voters.

How do we change that? We can start by scrapping our closed primary system that allows party bosses to hand-pick candidates who must toe the party line or risk losing their party’s support and ballot line.

In New York, there are more than 3.5 million voters not enrolled in any party, with that number growing by half a million people just last year. That’s because the governor and Legislature, under the guise of a COVID-19 relief bill passed in the middle of the night, tripled the minimums for party status — effectively eliminating five of New York’s minor parties.

New York is one of only nine states that uses a closed primary system, shutting out millions of voters. These problems are designed by — and can be remedied by — the parties themselves. Why wouldn’t a party welcome more voters?

Voters are tired of a “staggering” lack of choice. Unite NY supports opening party primaries to start giving voters a much-needed voice.

Daniel O’sullivan

Colonie Albany County chair,

Unite NY