Campaigns for Primary Reform
We’re working with primary reform activists in cities and states across the country to fight for the right of every voter to vote in every public election and to advocate for open, nonpartisan primary election systems.
We’re looking for supporters, activists & spokespeople to join us –if you’re interested in getting involved in your state please send an email to Jeremy Gruber, OP Senior VP at jgruber@openprimaries.org
ACTIVE CAMPAIGNS
Alaska
In 2020, Alaskans voted to take control of their elections and enact nonpartisan primaries and let every voter vote. After just one open election, political elites are trying to take that away with Measure 2 to repeal nonpartisan primaries.
A growing coalition of Alaskans are coming together to vote No on 2 to protect voter freedom keep Alaska’s elections open and fair.
ARIZONA
Make Elections Fair AZ is a coalition of Arizona citizens working to educate voters on the challenges facing the state of Arizona because of a partisan primary system and explore alternative nonpartisan voting systems that would make elections work better for all citizens.
The group is now proposing that it’s high time Arizona scrap partisan primaries and pass a constitutional amendment that outlaws state-run, taxpayer-funded primaries. This would open up the system to the ⅓ of Arizona voters who don’t identify with either party and are currently shut out of the system.
COLORADO
Colorado Voters First is a coalition of Coloradans working to enact Initiative 310 to enact reforms that will change the incentives for candidates and elected officials, resulting in elections and policymaking that better represent the will of the voters — rather than the will of the political extremes.
Initiative 310 will be on the ballot this November for all Coloradans to vote on and would create a system of open, top 4 nonpartisan primaries with ranked choice voting in the General Election
Florida
Florida Open Primaries–a coalition of local and national activists–is running a campaign to build awareness and support around the nearly 4 million voters in Florida currently shut out of public elections.
The campaign is pressuring the legislature to get behind open primaries and is calling on ALL Floridians to join the campaign to address this voter suppression. If you’re a Florida voter, join today!
idaho
A coalition has come together in Idaho–Idahoans for Open Primaries– to put a “top four” open primary initiative on the 2024 ballot.
Idaho had open primaries until 2010, when a faction of the Republican Party sued to close the primaries. Politics in the state has become increasingly dogmatic/partisan ever since.
The office of the Idaho Attorney General assigned a ballot title to Idahoans for Open Primaries initiative for nonpartisan primaries and ranked choice voting. The group is challenging the language in court. The Idaho Supreme Court has granted a motion to expedite a hearing on the legal challenge. Stay tuned.
NEVADA
Yes on 3 is a coalition of independents, Democrats and Republicans working to bring Top 5 nonpartisan open primaries and ranked choice voting to all Nevadans.
In 2022, Nevadans passed Measure 3 despite opposition from both political parties – moving one step closer to joining California, Washington, Nebraska and Alaska as the 5th state in the U.S. to fully empower independents by adopting nonpartisan, open primaries. Nevada requires that constitutional amendments pass twice in order to be enacted.
There are nearly 1,000,000 registered independents in Nevada. They recently became the largest group of voters in the state and are 42% of the electorate. If passed on the second vote this November, Measure 3 will allow the state’s independent voters to play an even bigger role in the state’s political future.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Open Elections has been pursuing legislation to establish semi-open primaries and let all voters vote in New Mexico. As a result of their efforts, the New Mexico Senate this year passed a semi-open primary elections bill, which allows registered independents and minor party affiliates to participate in primary elections without having to change their voter registration. The legislation passed with a vote of 27-10, with support from both Democrats and Republicans.
The legislation fell just shy of passage in the House, however. NMOE is now planning on going back to the legislature in 2024 with the wind at their backs.
NEW York City
Final Five Voting NYC–a movement fueled by New Yorkers for Competitive Elections have come together to build a grassroots movement to make NYC’s elections more democratic through the adoption of Final Five Voting. The group is led by a growing coalition of local political, community, and business leaders and organizations from all five boroughs and across the political spectrum.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma United is pursuing a public education campaign on primary reform as they build towards a ballot initiative for open primaries. It’s being organized by the indefatigable Margaret Kobos-who has built a statewide network to repeal closed primaries in Oklahoma. Mayor GT Bynum of Tulsa , State Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborne, former State Senator AJ Griffen and Open Primaries SVP Jeremy Gruber recently led a citywide town hall in Oklahoma City that brought out over 150 Oklahomans of all political stripes to call for change
The broad support they are building is cutting across traditional political boundaries and they hope to have a statewide ballot initiative ready soon.
OREGON
All Oregon Votes is currently building their campaign and aiming for a 2026 ballot initiative. They’re organizing and talking with voters and leaders across the entire state of Oregon.
PENNSYLVANIA
Ballot PA has launched a legislative campaign (in both the Senate and the House) to allow independent voters in the state the right to vote in Republican and Democratic primary elections. Both pieces of legislation aim to address the voter suppression currently happening in the state and enfranchise the 1.2 million Pennsylvanians currently locked out of the process.
Last session the legislation passed favorably through the Senate, but failed to clear the House. Most recently, the PA House heard testimony from supporters and opponents as momentum is growing across the state to open the primaries to unaffiliated and independent Pennsylvanians.
South Dakota
South Dakota Open Primaries have filed a proposed constitutional amendment with the South Dakota Legislative Research Council. The proposed ballot initiative would establish a top-two open primary system.
South Dakota Open Primaries’ campaign to put open primaries on the 2024 ballot is charging ahead–the team has already organized 40 volunteers to help collect the 35,000 signatures required ahead of the May 2024 deadline (for a November 2024 ballot referendum).
UTAH
People4Utah are building towards a 2024 campaign launch for a ballot measure effort to repeal closed primaries and adopt top two nonpartisan primaries.
WAshington DC
Make All Votes Count DC’s ballot initiative for RCV & semi-open primaries has been given the greenlight by the DC Board of Elections to be on the 2024 DC ballot for the voters of DC to weigh in on.
And while the Democratic Party in DC is pushing to keep ranked choice voting & open primaries off the ballot (their excuse is that voters aren’t smart enough to adapt to a new system), we’re already seeing new voices join the fight–including most recently the League of Women Voters DC.
WISCONSIN
Democracy Found is pursuing legislation to bring Final Five Voting (nonpartisan primaries + ranked choice voting in the general election) to Wisconsin.
