PROVIDENCE, R.I. – People’s Primary, a local grassroots effort, announced a primary election reform initiative today designed to give voters more choices while creating greater competition in Rhode Island elections. After researching primary elections across the country, People’s Primary recommends three options for Rhode Island’s leaders to consider: top-two nonpartisan primaries; ranked choice voting including nonpartisan primaries with top-four ranked choice; and a partisan open primary system.
“Rhode Island’s primary system was designed for a political time and competitive reality that no longer exists,” according to a white paper released by the group. “A small percentage of voters are selecting the candidates (in a primary) for the majority of voters in the general election. We believe that the rules of Rhode Island’s primary system should be revisited to give voters more choices, allow and encourage candidates to speak to all their constituents and incentivize greater participation, transparency and meaningful competition.”
Rhode Island’s primary system can be characterized as “semi-closed”. This means that voters must be registered party members to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, while unaffiliated or independent voters can vote in either party’s primary. Candidates win a Rhode Island primary if they achieve a plurality of the votes cast - a majority of the votes is not required for a candidate to win.
“This is problematic in any state dominated by one party, where a candidate in a multi-field primary can effectively win public office with 35% of the votes, or less, and then not face a competitive opponent in the general election,” the white paper explains. “Voters, elected officials and scholars have all raised concerns over Rhode Island’s lack of voter participation, limited competition for elected office and the plurality rule.”
Primary Reform Options:
Top-two nonpartisan primary: Any registered voter can participate in the primary. The top two vote-getters regardless of party advance to the general election, commonly held in November. The candidate who receives the majority of votes in the general election is elected. This system is used by Nebraska beginning in 1936, Washington in 2004 and California in 2010.
Top-four primary with ranked choice: The initial round lists all the candidates seeking an office with the four top vote-getters advancing to the general election, with the winner determined by ranked choice. Candidates are ranked by each voter according to their individual preferences. If an office seeker obtains a majority of first-place votes in the first round he or she is declared the winner. If no candidate receives over fifty percent of the vote, a ranking process commences. This system is used by Maine and Alaska.
Open primary: Voters may select one party’s ballot and vote in that party’s primary without being affiliated with the party. This is similar to Rhode Island’s election system prior to 1977.
“There is no perfect election system. However, Rhode Island’s political parties and elected officials should consider reforms to ensure our primary election system is equitable and incentivizes greater participation and competition,” the white paper concludes.
Individuals involved in the People’s Primary effort include: Gary Sasse, Guy Dufault, David Preston, Ray Mathieu, Robert G, Flanders Jr., Robert Whitcomb, Anne Szostak, Emily K. Lynch, Timothy Duffy, Scott Gibbs, John Opdycke, and Marie Langlois.
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