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Argument: Open primaries reduce distinctive ideological choices

Issue Report: Open primaries

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“Why open primaries are a really bad idea.” Next Left. May 26th, 2009: “A healthy democracy is one that presents voters at elections with real choices. Political parties, as communities of distinctive shared belief, are the main institution we use to frame choice. Under an open primary system, however, meaningful choice would be under threat. If the open primary system works, then all party candidates will end up looking pretty much like the median voter. Elections will become contests between centrists, and, given the absence of real policy or philosophical difference, will be determined more by issues of personality. That is bad for democracy.”