VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS SERIES

Open Primaries President John Opdycke hosts a monthly virtual discussion series to facilitate dialogue and debate within the growing independent and political reform arenas. Open Primaries is a leading national organization advocating for the full voting rights of every American, including the 49% who identify as political independents.  

Every month, 500-1200 people participate via Zoom or Facebook Live in a vibrant interview with Q and A open to all participants. 

Notable Past guests include: Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, Civil Rights leader and No Labels Co-Chair Dr. Ben Chavis, Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Former La Raza Board Chair Danny Ortega and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.

NEXT DISCUSSION:

WHO ARE AMERICA’S INDEPENDENT VOTERS?

Friday June 21st at 12pm ET

GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH:

1. UNITE AMERICA: Not Invited to the Party Primary: Independent Voters and the Problem with Closed Primaries

2. ASU: The Fluid Voter-Exploring Independent Voter Patterns Over Time

3. Open Primaries: The Next Great Migration–The Rise of Independent Voters

A special Primary Buzz conversation hosted by Unite America, Open Primaries and Arizona State University’s Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy

Friday June 21st at 12pm ET

More and more Americans — 43% —  identify as independent voters. This year alone, over 23.5 million independent voters across 22 states have been disenfranchised by closed primaries.  This includes three million independent voters in three key swing states that will likely decide the 2024 presidential election: Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. 

But who are independents? 

A new report from the Unite America Institute in collaboration with Change Research–Not Invited to the Party Primary: Independent Voters and the Problem with Closed Primaries– explores who these voters are demographically, shares why they register as independents, and examines their political beliefs. The report joins a growing body of research on independents that is attempting to understand why they are the fastest group of voters in the country and what makes them tick. The topline findings can be accessed here.

Leading that conversation is ASU’s Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy (Co-Founded by Thom Reilly & Jackie Salit), which is developing new models and leading an ongoing dialogue on how best to address the challenges of this sea change in voter affiliation and attitude.

On Friday June 21st at 12pm ET, Open Primaries President John Opdycke will interview Unite America’s Tyler Fisher, Change Research’s Sumati Thomas, and ASU’s Thom Reilly, to discuss the latest research and understanding of this dynamic and growing trend towards independence and what it means for the future of our democracy.

Bring your questions for the Q & A. 

REGISTER TODAY