Why open primaries matter

I’m an independent voter, and because of that, I’ve never voted in a primary election in New York, where I live. I would have broken that string this year because I feel it is so important that we have a good choice of candidates this November.

Well, not for the first time in my life, sloth got in the way of good intentions. I went online to get the registration procedure this morning only to discover that, although I’m already registered to vote in general elections, I would have had to have registered for the primaries no later than January 11th..

This is just undemocratic. First, why 25 days before the election? It’s totally arbitrary -- a tool for the established parties to maintain power. Second, the election may be only 20 days away but it is still a real horse race in both parties, therefore, I’m not sure in which primary I’d have liked to have voted.

I want my vote to be valuable, so if on February 5, for example, Mrs. Clinton had a solid lead in the Democratic race while the Republican contest was close, I’d have preferred to have voted in the latter, to make a difference.

Another, perhaps fanciful, example might have been if McCain had a clear lead in the Republican field while Obama and Kucinich were running neck-and-neck. Even though I’m much more likely to vote for McCain in November, I would have voted for Obama in the primary because I believe that would have been better for the country.

I should have the right to decide on February 5 which way to vote. Instead, I’ll sit on the sidelines and hope for the best.

The U.S. of A.: almost a democracy

Beginning today in Michigan, through February 5, there will be 29 state primaries and caucuses. However, in 17 of them, in order to vote for one of the national candidates, one must be a registered member of either the Republican or Democratic parties; these are the so-called "closed primaries."

This is one of the more effective tools our established political parties have employed to entrench themselves at the controls of our government. It's undemocratic and a major obstacle to any progressive candidate, from either party, who wishes to appeal to independents and moderate members of the opposition party.

Closed contests are held in some of our biggest states including California, New York, Massachusetts, Florida and New Jersey.