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To whom it may concern: The problems with partisan primaries need at least as much attention as other elements described as undermining democracy. U.S. politics, elections, and government have problems ranging from polarization to legislative gridlock (inaction) to government dysfunction. Reforms have been proposed in many areas, including redistricting, campaign finance, and voter participation. But, partisan primaries are not widely discussed as a systemic element, amplifying the polarization that leads to legislative gridlock and government dysfunction, increasing the effect of gerrymandering, magnifying the influence of money in politics, and discouraging voter participation. No matter how fairly we draw district lines, almost every electoral district favors one of the major parties. With partisan primaries, the result is that in almost every electoral district one of the major party primaries is the only election that matters. The vast majority of electoral districts are safe seats for one of the major parties, and whoever emerges from the favored party primary only has to come across as less unacceptable than anyone from the other party in order to win the general election. A low turnout partisan primary is the decision point, and the general election has little or no influence on the choice of a representative. With partisan primaries, one of the major party primaries is the only election that matters in almost every electoral district, and these elections are decided by a shockingly small proportion of voters. On average across the United States, voter turnout for primary elections is a little less than half the turnout for general elections (States United Action, Turnout in Primaries vs General Elections since 2000). In partisan primaries, voters only vote to choose a candidate for one party. If the favored party has a solid 60 percent of primary voters, this substantial advantage equals only 30 percent of the vote in the general election. In a contested primary, the winner is determined by a number of voters equaling only 15 percent of the vote in the general election. But, many incumbent legislators don't have a primary challenger, and since the primary is the only election that matters, they're reinstated without any meaningful electoral review. One big consequence of partisan primaries is that elected officials are more concerned with a small minority of primary voters than they are with the broad majority of their constituents. Representatives don't want to be voted out of office by a small group of activist voters at the next primary election, so they're motivated to take actions or vote in ways that are not supported by the majority of constituents. Furthermore, to avoid a primary challenge representatives take uncompromising positions that lead to legislative gridlock. Partisan redistricting is more effective and campaign spending has more influence when they focus on a small proportion of voters in one of the major party primaries. Knowing that the winner of one of the major party primaries is almost guaranteed to win almost every general election, partisan legislators only need to focus on a small proportion of primary voters when drawing district lines. Campaign spending can also be focused on relatively small numbers of primary voters in order to influence who is elected in safe seats. Partisan primaries effectively disenfranchise any voter who doesn't vote in the favored party primary. This is a solid reason for feeling that your vote doesn't matter and that voting doesn't make a difference. Some people are discouraged from voting at all. Many voters, discouraged by partisan polarization, register with no party preference. When people don't vote and when voters don't participate in the favored party primary, they voluntarily, if unintentionally, disenfranchise themselves, and their discouragement grows. Consequently, relatively small groups of primary voters have disproportionate influence on who represents us and how we're represented, amplifying the polarization and dysfunction that poison our politics and government. News reports focus almost entirely on a small number of competitive elections in swing districts. Elections with an uncertain outcome are much more interesting than uncontested elections or elections where one candidate is almost guaranteed to win. But, almost every electoral district is a safe seat for one of the major parties, and the winner of that party's primary will almost certainly win the general election. This reality has a much greater influence on who is elected and how they govern than the fate of candidates in competitive elections or even which party controls a branch of government. Focusing so much attention on competitive elections obscures the larger influence of elements like partisan primaries that feed the polarization, gridlock and dysfunction plaguing our politics and government. Partisan primaries are an important structural mechanism that contribute significantly to undermining democracy in the United States. Low turnout primary elections amplify the influence that district gerrymandering and uncontrolled campaign spending have on elections. Voters are discouraged from participating in elections where their vote has little or no effect on the final outcome. Partisan primaries deserve to be looked at carefully for their contribution to the polarization, gridlock, and dysfunction that poison our politics and government. Alternatives to partisan primaries need to be considered. RESOURCES Turnout in Primaries vs General Elections since 2000 States United Action Last Updated: July 28, 2022 https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/historic_turnout.html https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/states-united-action/ https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/ "In U.S. elections since 2000, the average turnout rate for primary elections is 27% of registered voters. In contrast, the average turnout rate for general elections is 60.5% of registered voters. This means that, on average, more than half of general election voters do not vote in primary elections." Voter Turnout https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/voter-turnout Primary Elections (W.G. Mayer, in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2001), 4 Who Does Participate? "In general, contested presidential primaries attract about 20–35 percent of a state's voting age Democrats or Republicans, compared to a 50–55 percent turnout in the general election and a participation rate of just 1–3 percent in the presidential caucuses. In addition, there is far greater variation in primary election turnout rates, depending on how many seriously contested races are on the ballot." Voter turnout in United States elections Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Voter_turnout_in_United_States_elections Voter Turnout Data: Voting Statistics US Elections Project, Michael P. McDonald, Professor, University of Florida, Department of Political Science (222 Anderson Hall, P.O. Box 117325, Gainesville, FL 32611) phone: 352-273-2371 (office), e-mail: michael.mcdonald@ufl.edu https://www.electproject.org/election-data/voter-turnout-data U.S. House Battlegrounds, 2022 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._House_battlegrounds,_2022#Battleground_list U.S.Senate Battlegrounds, 2022 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._Senate_battlegrounds,_2022 Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 12, 2022 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Annual_State_Legislative_Competitiveness_Report:_Vol._12,_2022#Major_party_competition Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections: 1972-2014 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Competitiveness_in_State_Legislative_Elections:_1972-2014 The Primary Problem: How partisan primaries disenfranchise voters, distort representation, and fuel political division. Unite America https://www.uniteamerica.org/reports/the-primary-problem "Despite a record turnout in the 2020 general election, only 10% of eligible Americans nationwide cast ballots in primary elections that effectively decided the winners in a supermajority (83%) of Congressional seats. Partisan primaries are the “Primary Problem” in our politics today. Spark A Conversation With Family, Friends Or Neighbors
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The Problem With Partisan Primaries No matter how fairly we draw district lines, almost every electoral district favors one of the major parties. With partisan primaries, the result is that one of the major party primaries is the only election that matters in almost every electoral district, and these elections are decided by a shockingly small proportion of voters.
The Influence On Representatives One big consequence of partisan primaries is that elected officials are more concerned with a small minority of primary voters than they are with the broad majority of their constituents.
Amplifying the effect Of Gerrymandering And Campaign Spending Low turnout primary elections amplify the influence district gerrymandering and uncontrolled campaign spending have on elections elections. Partisan redistricting is more effective and campaign spending has more influence when they focus on a small proportion of voters in one of the major party primaries.
Discouraging Voter Participation Partisan primaries effectively disenfranchise any voter who doesn't vote in the favored party primary. This is a solid reason for feeling that your vote doesn't matter and that voting doesn't make a difference.
More Attention On The Problem Of Partisan Primaries Partisan primaries deserve to be looked at carefully for their contribution to the polarization, gridlock, and dysfunction that poison our politics and government.
Summary Partisan primaries are an important structural mechanism that contribute significantly to undermining democracy in the United States. Low turnout primary elections amplify the influence district gerrymandering and uncontrolled campaign spending have on elections elections. Voters are discouraged from participating in elections where their vote has little or no effect on the final outcome. Partisan primaries deserve to be looked at carefully for their contribution to the polarization, gridlock, and dysfunction that poison our politics and government. Alternatives to partisan primaries need to be considered. Read more about building a network online. RESOURCES Turnout in Primaries vs General Elections since 2000 States United Action Last Updated: July 28, 2022 https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/historic_turnout.html https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/states-united-action/ https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/ "In U.S. elections since 2000, the average turnout rate for primary elections is 27% of registered voters. In contrast, the average turnout rate for general elections is 60.5% of registered voters. This means that, on average, more than half of general election voters do not vote in primary elections." Voter Turnout https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/voter-turnout Primary Elections (W.G. Mayer, in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2001), 4 Who Does Participate? "In general, contested presidential primaries attract about 20–35 percent of a state's voting age Democrats or Republicans, compared to a 50–55 percent turnout in the general election and a participation rate of just 1–3 percent in the presidential caucuses. In addition, there is far greater variation in primary election turnout rates, depending on how many seriously contested races are on the ballot." Voter turnout in United States elections Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Voter_turnout_in_United_States_elections Voter Turnout Data: Voting Statistics US Elections Project, Michael P. McDonald, Professor, University of Florida, Department of Political Science (222 Anderson Hall, P.O. Box 117325, Gainesville, FL 32611) phone: 352-273-2371 (office), e-mail: michael.mcdonald@ufl.edu https://www.electproject.org/election-data/voter-turnout-data U.S. House Battlegrounds, 2022 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._House_battlegrounds,_2022#Battleground_list U.S.Senate Battlegrounds, 2022 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._Senate_battlegrounds,_2022 Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 12, 2022 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Annual_State_Legislative_Competitiveness_Report:_Vol._12,_2022#Major_party_competition Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections: 1972-2014 Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Competitiveness_in_State_Legislative_Elections:_1972-2014 The Primary Problem: How partisan primaries disenfranchise voters, distort representation, and fuel political division. Unite America https://www.uniteamerica.org/reports/the-primary-problem "Despite a record turnout in the 2020 general election, only 10% of eligible Americans nationwide cast ballots in primary elections that effectively decided the winners in a supermajority (83%) of Congressional seats. Partisan primaries are the “Primary Problem” in our politics today. *Due to geographic self-sorting and partisan gerrymandering, 83% of congressional districts lean so Democratic or so Republican (“safe”) that the only election of consequence is the primary election.⁸ *As a result, in partisan primaries, a small minority of voters decide the vast majority of congressional elections — fueling political polarization and preventing problem-solving." |