NYC Commission Says No to Open Primaries

New York City’s Charter Revision Commission has decided not to move forward with a proposal for open primaries, meaning it will not appear on the city’s November general election ballot.

The proposal would have allowed any registered voter, regardless of their personal party affiliation, to vote in any primary elections. Currently, New York has a closed primary system, requiring voters to register with a party 10 days in advance.

Opposition came from across the political spectrum. Democratic Comptroller Brad Lander and Republican City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola were among those who spoke against the idea, raising concerns that voters who don’t identify with a party could influence that party’s primary outcome in ways its own members wouldn’t want.

Supporters, however, such as Mayor Eric Adams’s Deputy Mayor for Communications, Fabien Levy, who spoke out in a personal capacity at a revision commission meeting, argued that the system would bring in voters who feel left out, including those not registered with a political party.

In an interview with WFUV News, Fordham political science professor Jacob Smith pointed to examples of those left out by closed primaries, like younger voters, who are less likely to be registered with a party.

Smith also mentioned Mississippi’s 2014 Republican Senate runoff, where more open primary rules allowed broader voter participation, helping a moderate candidate win with support beyond his party’s traditional base.

For now, the Charter Commission has left open primaries off the table, citing a lack of consensus. But Chair Richard Buery Jr. said in an interview with The City that he hopes civic leaders will continue to push the conversation forward. 

The commission will still vote on other proposed ballot measures, including one to shift city elections to even-numbered years.

A portion of this interview aired on the What’s What podcast from WFUV News on July 17, 2025.