Open, all-candidate primaries earn high marks from independent voters.
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In recent years, a variety of election reforms have been proposed and adopted across the US. In 2016, Maine voters approved a ballot measure implementing instant runoff voting (also known as ranked-choice voting) for federal elections; in 2020, Alaska voters passed a top-four open, all-candidate primary and instant runoff general election; and in 2022, Nevada voters approved the same system, but with a top-five primary.1 In 2024 primary reform will be on the ballot in six more states.2
Despite these recent successes, 15 states still hold closed primaries for congressional elections—with 22 holding closed presidential primaries—which exclude independent voters from the candidate-selection process. The more than 23 million excluded independents across the country stand to gain by opening the primary process via open primaries—which allow independents to participate in major party primaries—or open, all-candidate primaries—which replace partisan primaries with a single primary election in which all candidates run and all voters can participate.
While independents’ voices in the political process would increase via primary reform, what do they think about various options? To further investigate independents’ political views, Unite America conducted a poll of registered independents across 20 states with closed congressional or presidential primaries.3 The results revealed that an overwhelming majority of independents see their exclusion from the primary process as a violation of their rights. They expressed strong support for both open and open, all-candidate primaries—as well as a variety of other reforms to make the election process more inclusive and fairer.
In our survey, independent voters were very cognizant of their exclusion from the primary process—more than three-quarters felt it was “definitely” (52.5%) or “probably” (23.5%) a voting rights issue (see Figure 1).4 When asked to explain their sentiments about this issue, some of the most frequently invoked words were “angry,” “annoyed,” “disappointed,” “excluded,” and “left out.” One respondent stated: “A disgrace! We pay taxes like everyone else does. We comply with all rules and regulations” (Latina Woman, 65+). Another echoed these sentiments: “It doesn’t feel democratic…it [dis]incentivizes mainstream candidates from caring about issues that could really make a difference in people’s lives” (Black Woman, 35-49). Yet another independent respondent expressed their feelings simply as: “disenfranchised” (Black Man, 65+).
Figure 1: Majority of Independents View Closed Primaries as Affront to Voting Rights
These sentiments were common across demographic subgroups—in fact, agreement was above 70% across all groups (see Figure 2). The highest level of concern was expressed by women (78%), voters aged 18-49 (78.5%), people of color (79.5%), and those without a college education (81%).
Figure 2: Across Demographics, Independents Express Voting Rights Concern
The overwhelming majority of independent voters support reforms that would allow them to participate in the primary process (see Figure 3). Overall, 86.5% supported allowing independents to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries, while only 8% opposed the reform. Likewise, 81% supported all-candidate primaries, with only 11% opposed.
Figure 3: Independents Strongly Support Open and All-Candidate Primaries
Across all major demographic groups, open primaries were slightly more popular than open, all-candidate primaries; the only exception was among women, who supported the two reforms equally.
Even beyond primary reform, independents evinced an overall openness to updating the election system. 93% supported term limits (4% opposed), 87% supported campaign finance reform (3% opposed), and 68% supported independent redistricting (8% opposed). Additionally, 83% agreed that voters should not be required to register with a political party (8% disagreed) and 64% supported ending the delegate system to nominate presidential candidates (15% opposed).
Figure 4: Independent Support High for Term Limits, Campaign Finance Reform, Independent Redistricting
Similar trends played out across most demographic subgroups, with large majorities supporting these reforms.
The past decade has witnessed a surge in support for election reform across the country, with majorities backing improvements to how we choose our elected officials. Perhaps unsurprisingly, independents are particularly fervent in their support for efforts to include them in the primary process—in fact, most independents consider their exclusion from such elections as a violation of their rights.
Overall, our survey revealed that voters across most demographics express slightly stronger support for open primaries over all-candidate primaries. It is possible that this result stems from greater familiarity with open primaries; for example, four of the states included in the survey—Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Nebraska—use closed primaries for presidential elections, but open or all-candidate primaries for other elections.5 Additionally, those unfamiliar with both proposed reforms may perceive open primaries to be more similar to the status quo and favor it as a less dramatic change to the election system.
Nevertheless, it is clear that overwhelming majorities of independents support efforts to reform the primary system and include them in every stage of the election process. Reform efforts that have gained momentum in recent years promise to open our elections and make them more inclusive and fairer—as one independent voter put it: “Every citizen should have the right to vote without restriction” (White Woman, 18-34).
1 Nevada voters must approve the same measure in November 2024 for it to be adopted.
2 Primary reform will be on the ballot in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and South Dakota.
3 The Independent Voters Poll was conducted by Change Research from January 10–20, 2024. The states included are: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.
4 These numbers were calculated by averaging responses from two questions, one that mentioned “violation of voting rights” and the other that mentioned “voter suppression” (each variation was asked to half of respondents).
5 Arizona employs semi-open primaries for state and Congressional elections, in which independents can vote in either party’s primary. California employs a top-two all-candidate primary for state and federal elections, while Louisiana employs a very similar rule. Nebraska uses the top-two all-candidate primary for elections to the state’s unicameral legislature
