Party primaries shape the choices of all voters on Election Day and, in communities dominated by one party, often determine the winner.
Yet, more than 42% of registered voters (over 1 million) are excluded from voting in these primaries because they have exercised their right not to formally join a political party and chosen, instead, to register as “unaffiliated.”
The political parties have the power to permit these currently disenfranchised, unaffiliated voters to vote in the party primary of their choice. Under existing Connecticut law, any political party can simply update its party rules to eliminate any requirement that the voter register as a party member and give up their “unaffiliated” status in order to vote in a party primary. Unaffiliated voters would be allowed to choose one party’s primary while remaining unaffiliated. Members of another party would remain ineligible. Unaffiliated voters would be allowed to choose one party’s primary while remaining unaffiliated. Members of another party would remain ineligible.
The major political parties should exercise this power and give the vote to the state’s more than one million unaffiliated voters.
Party primaries are financed with taxpayer money. “Unaffiliated” voters, no less than party members, should be allowed to vote in one of the primary elections their tax dollars pay for.
Broader participation will increase turnout in party primaries and connect party candidates earlier and more meaningfully with the unaffiliated voters they need to succeed in November.
Our approach is often called semi-open primaries:
– Democrats vote in the Democratic primary.
– Republicans vote in the Republican primary.
– Unaffiliated voters may choose one party’s primary without changing their registration.
Each voter participates in only one party’s primary. Registered members of one party would not be permitted to vote in another party’s primary under this proposal.
Connecticut law already allows political parties to open their primaries to unaffiliated voters through their own rules. CTVF encourages both major parties to use that authority.
We also support giving political parties the option to nominate candidates through direct primaries instead of conventions, creating more opportunities for voters—including enrolled party members—to participate in choosing nominees.
CTVF’s approach respects the role of political parties while encouraging a nomination process that welcomes broader participation. We are building support through public education, conversations with party leaders and policymakers, and partnerships with civic organizations and voters across Connecticut.
Help us give more Connecticut voters a voice.
38 Vera St, West Hartford, CT 06119 • info@ctvotersfirst.com
