At least half a dozen states could decide on major changes to their election systems this fall, as organizers push for revamps that would do away with traditional party contests in favor of open, all-candidate primaries.
Colorado in August became the latest state to officially qualify such an effort for the November ballot, following Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, Montana and Nevada. The specifics of the proposals vary by state, but organizers broadly argue that closed party primaries put voters at a disadvantage and stoke political polarization.
“Of all of the factors that are fueling polarization, our elections — the design of our election system — is the most tractable, is the most solvable,” said Nick Troiano, executive director of the election reform nonprofit Unite America, which has championed the efforts.
“The common denominator between all six states pursuing open primaries is that they will replace traditional partisan primaries with an open, all-candidate primary, which allows all voters to vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation,” Troiano said.