Recent NYC Mayoral Primary Reflects Need for Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting

The results of the recent New York City Democratic mayoral primary highlight the importance of giving voters a choice in elections. In a high-profile, high-stakes race with multiple candidates, ranked choice voting (RCV) ensured a majority-supported outcome and encouraged a more respectful, coalition-driven campaign environment.

But while New York City voters benefit from RCV—even if limited to primaries—most New Yorkers across the state don’t have that opportunity at all. And all citizens are still bound by closed primaries. That means millions of unaffiliated New Yorkers are shut out of meaningful participation in elections that play a large role in determining the final outcome.

The most recent primary in New York City proved that RCV has a positive effect, and showed what’s possible when citizens are empowered with real choice.

It is time to expand democratic reforms throughout the state by expanding RCV, instituting open primaries and the other reforms that make up Unite NY’s Five Pillars. Together, these smart, practical measures offer a smarter, fairer system that reflects peoples’ actual preferences, reduces polarization, and rewards candidates who speak to the full electorate.