Open vs. Closed Primaries: How can voter turnout be improved?

Were you shut out of the August Primary Election because you weren’t registered with a major party? This question is not just academic in heavily Republican Okaloosa & Walton Counties, where local and state races are often decided in the Primary, and fully 41% of registered voters are not Republicans. The 64% jump in no-party-affiliated voters since 2004 means this will only get worse: just one “spoiler” write-in candidate can close a primary and disenfranchise voters.

So, candidates can—and do—win with less than 10% of the electorate’s support. Please join the League of Women Voters of Okaloosa & Walton County from 10:00–noon ­on Saturday, 17 Nov, at the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Com­merce (34 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, FWB) to learn all about the Florida League’s recent study of open primaries. League’s two-year, statewide study—which was prompted by the state’s abysmally low voter turnout for primary elections—evaluated reasons for and solutions to low turn­out, coupled with an evaluation of alter­native primary election systems. On 17 Nov we’ll review the study’s findings and conclusions, and discuss potential voter turnout solutions. Together we can help make democracy work better for all Floridians! The meeting is free and open to the public. RSVP to info@lwvowc.org.