Open Primaries National Organizer Sila Avcil (New Mexico Open Elections) recently spent three days interviewing independent voters in New Mexico: lifers who have been independent since the day they registered to vote, former Democrats and Republicans who left the parties ten minutes ago, ten years ago, and a diverse swath of folks in between–she talked to them all! 

What do these different kinds of people have in common that no one seems to understand?

Independents believe in voting for people over political party.

Let Us Vote compiled all these interviews into a new video that highlights what truly binds New Mexican independents together. They're deeply thoughtful, passionate people who vote for people and policies at the ballot box and they deserve a full and equal voice in their elections. 

Watch the full video here:

Independents need a place to call their own. That's what we're building at LetUsVote: a place by independents, for independents.

If you’d like to receive regular updates from Let Us Vote click HERE.

More and more states are being challenged by the growth of independent voters. It’s putting pressure on the parties, election administration, political races and status quo politics across the country. North Carolina, for example, has seen its population double in the last 20 years- yet Republicans and Democrats have seen only marginal gains. Independents, on the other hand, are now the largest voting bloc. Read more on how North Carolina’s wrestling with a changing electorate.

ARKANSAS: Recently the Republican Party of Arkansas voted to support closing the state’s primaries. The Party Chair declared: “For those people who look to Florida and like what a lot of their politicians like Matt Gaetz and DeSantis do, if conservative voters are wanting to be more like that, I think it’s important they understand why it’s so critical we have closed primaries.”  

HAWAII: Hawaii has some of the lowest voter turnout and least competitive elections in the country. That has thought leaders across the state calling for change. Honolulu Civil Beat’s Richard Weins is suggesting that Hawaii adopt top two open primaries to revitalize their political culture. This week, in another new op-ed out in Hawaii Chad Blair is also calling out the state’s backwards system and calling for reform.

IDAHO: Reclaim Idaho is hosting an event on July 2nd at noon on the Idaho Capitol steps for the final turn-in of signatures for the Open Primaries Initiative to the Secretary of State! Over 94,000 signatures have been collected and this special event will celebrate this major milestone of being one step closer to officially being on the November ballot. If you’re in Idaho and can make it–register here. 

NEVADA: A new piece out in Nevada connects the dots between closed primaries, drops in voter participation, and an increase in political apathy: “all this means is that an even smaller than normal subsect of niche (partisan) activists will be responsible for selecting candidates — candidates who will then, somehow, have to appeal to America’s growing swath of “exhausted” voters.” If passed in November, Question 3 for open primaries would change that equation.

NEW YORK: NYC’s Charter Revision Commission recently heard testimony on a reform proposal that could profoundly change NYC politics for the better. The proposal would institute an open primary system in city elections, allowing independents voters to participate in primaries. There are nearly 1,000,000 independents in NYC. 

SOUTH DAKOTA: Low voter turnout of just 17% in the South Dakota closed partisan primary on June 4th has created new allies and support for the open primaries ballot initiative (Amendment H). Amendment co-author and South Dakota Open Primaries’ Chair Joe Kirby went on record saying: “We have a lot of new friends all of a sudden.” SDOP has received an outpouring of calls, contacts, and inquiries — and even checks —since June 4th. Turns out even staunch party loyalists are frustrated that a smaller and smaller fraction of the most partisan voters are deciding our elections.