Alamogordo NM
3-24-2025 11:54pm

Rep. John Block and Otero Senators Voted Against Open Primaries Bill

In yet another affront to open elections Rep John Block, Otero County and the two members of the state Senat voted against open primaries, via SB 16, for New Mexico. However the bill passed.

Thirty-five states have a version of open primaries; New Mexico is one of just 15 in the country that has closed or semi-closed primaries. A closed primary means an independent cannot participate in either the Republican nor Democratic primary. In a county such as Otero that leans heavily towards one party what that means is independent voters see disenfranchised or left out of many races. Many local races only have a party specific single candidate and don't have an opposition party candidate in the general election thus a majority may not get a say in the eventual winner. Independents and other non recognized parties make up about 35% of the registered voters in the state of New Mexico.

As of December 2024, 330,000 New Mexico voters, roughly a quarter of all voters in the state, were not affiliated with any of the state’s three major parties, which are Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. And 40% of New Mexico voters aged 18 to 24 are unaffiliated.

The bill passed 36-33. It previously passed the Senate 27-11. It now heads to the governor’s desk. Gov. Grisham said a bill to make New Mexico’s primary elections open to independent voters is a “step in the right direction.”

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3-25-2025 7:44am

What is being called open elections in this article is actually a further step toward closed elections and one party rule.
A primary is a run off of the candidates from a single party so that the party can put forth a candidate that will get the largest support from it's own members.
Allowing non party members to choose which candidates get the nomination ensures not only a risk, but a likely hood that opposing parties will vote in each others primaries.
Now instead of having the best candidates from each party squaring off, open primaries will ensure that we have the worst from each party.
This in turn leads to increased voter apathy and progressively smaller and smaller voter turn outs.

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3-26-2025 11:14am

not sure if you really understand what's being proposed.  in a case such as Otero county, where the republican party has a pretty clear majority advantage, a closed primary means that democrats, libertarians and independent voters simply are not allowed to participate in the actual critical stage of an election.
i'm a louisiana native, where they use a "jungle primary", thats where every candidate - regardless of party affiliation - is on the same primary ballot.  that's a completely "open" system, where every voter has the right to vote for the candidates of their choice - think about it.

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