In Kentucky, closed primaries leave too many voters disenfranchised | Opinion
As a nonpartisan voter in Kentucky, I yearn for a more meaningful say in politics. It’s disheartening to see a single party dominate elections, leaving nonpartisan voters sidelined. To address this, Kentucky should adopt open primaries and ranked choice voting, fostering an inclusive democracy where all voters’ voices are heard.
In Fayette County, where the Democratic Party has long held sway, nonpartisan voters often find themselves on the sidelines during pivotal primary races. When Angela Evans and Larry Roberts squared off in an ostensibly competitive County Attorney primary in 2022, for example, nonpartisan voters were effectively sidelined and only allowed to cast votes in the general election, which took place after Evans, the presumptive winner,had already assumed the office.
While I was glad to see Evans win, closed primaries have created a system where some countywide offices are elected by party members alone, leaving independents and unaffiliated voters with limited influence. If Evans had lost her primary, I would have surely felt cheated out of my opportunity to weigh in at the ballot box. It’s as if our perspectives, concerns, and visions for the future are deemed inconsequential simply because we choose not to align ourselves with a particular party. This exclusion leaves us longing for a political landscape that values diversity of thought and opinion, one where nonpartisan voters have an opportunity to actively participate and shape the course of our community.
Statewide, the dominance of a single party also marginalizes nonpartisan voters. In Kentucky, a predominantly Republican state, our preferences are overshadowed by the weight of the GOP base. Closed primaries focus on appealing to the most extreme party members, leaving little room for engaging with independent voices and building consensus. Nonpartisan voters feel unheard, as their concerns and values are brushed aside in favor of party orthodoxy.
This one-sided approach to politics hampers the progress of our state. For example, the Republican Secretary of State primary pits an incumbent against two election deniers, with the winner becoming the presumptive winner in the General Election. This outcome disregards the preferences of the majority of Kentuckians and highlights the flaws of our closed primary system.
However, there is hope. Open primaries and ranked choice voting offer a path towards a more inclusive democracy, embracing the contributions and perspectives of all voters. Open primaries would grant nonpartisan voters a meaningful voice, allowing us to shape our communities without the constraint of party affiliation.
In conjunction with open primaries, ranked choice voting provides a fairer way to determine the will of the electorate. This system ensures that the candidate with the broadest support among voters emerges as the victor, regardless of party affiliations. Ranked choice voting encourages collaboration, fosters a nuanced understanding of issues, and allows nonpartisan voters to support candidates with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.
It’s time for Kentucky to embrace these reforms. Together, we can dismantle the barriers that marginalize and disempower nonpartisan voters. By adopting open primaries and ranked choice voting, we can create a democracy where every voice matters, diverse perspectives are valued, and our collective vision for a brighter future can be realized. The time for change is now, and it is up to us to ensure that our democracy is inclusive, fair, and reflective of the will of all its citizens.
To learn more about ranked choice voting, visit https://fairvote.org/our-reforms/ranked-choice-voting/.
Paul Oliva was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He is a registered nonpartisan and voted for Gatewood Galbraith each time the legendary Lexington politician appeared on his ballot. He is also the editor of The Lexington Times.
