Current Events:  Voter Suppression in the Free State.

Last week, I voted by mail in the primary election.

 

Under Maryland’s outdated closed primary system, I was permitted to vote in the Democratic primary because I am a registered Democrat.

With Maryland’s closed primaries, I am not permitted to vote in the Republican primary.  Even though I might have a strong preference for some Republican candidate.

Similarly, registered Republicans are permitted to vote in the Republican primary.  They are not allowed to vote in the Democratic primary.  Even though they might have a strong preference for some Democratic candidate.

Worse still, Independent (aka unaffiliated) voters can’t vote in primary elections in Maryland.  There are over 400,000 Independents in Maryland.  That’s over 20% of all voters.  They have no say in who represents them.

Why does voting in the primary matter?  Because most election districts in Maryland are overwhelmingly Democratic or overwhelmingly Republican.  So, whoever wins the dominant party’s primary will most probably win the general election.

The outdated closed primary system in Maryland is just plain wrong.

First, Independents, 20% of all Maryland voters, can’t vote in any primary.  For all practical purposes, Independents have no say in who represents them.  That’s voter suppression.

Second, the other 80% of us can’t vote in the primary of our choosing.  That too is voter suppression.

Third, all taxpayers in Maryland pay for running the elections.  Even though Independents are taxpayers and their tax dollars pay for primary elections, they can’t vote in them.  Taxation without representation! 

Fourth, most states already have some form of Open Primaries.  Maryland is behind.

Fifth, and most important, closed primaries are an accelerant for hyper partisanship.   At best, that results in ineffective government.  At worst, it’s tearing our Nation apart.  Without the moderating influence of allowing all voters to vote in the primary of their choosing, candidates only need appeal to their “base” and we end up electing extremists … on both the left and right … who don’t represent most of us.

If you’d like to advocate for Open Primaries, please go to https://www.independentvotersmd.org/.  You can sign a petition there.  Better yet, send an email to your state senator and delegate.