The Case for Nonpartisan Primaries in the U.S.

Advocates and political scientists argue that the current primary election system in the United States is flawed, as it often excludes voters and leads to the selection of more extreme candidates. They highlight the low voter turnout in primary elections, which effectively decide the winners in a majority of Congressional seats. The movement for electoral reform calls for rethinking how states set up their primary elections and allowing independent voters to participate. Some states have already implemented nonpartisan primary systems, where all candidates from all parties are listed on the same ballot, leading to potential changes in bipartisanship and ideological moderation among elected officials. However, research on the impact of nonpartisan primaries on candidate moderation and voter engagement remains mixed.