Open Primaries for Every Voter
Over 26 million Americans are locked out of primary elections simply because they refuse to join a political party. IVP is leading the fight to change that.
Sign the Petition
Add your name to the national movement for open primaries for every voter.
Help us reach 10,000, and we're 74% of the way there!
Sign with us — your voice counts.
Primary elections decide who wins — and most voters aren't invited.
In most of America, primary elections are the only elections that matter. By the time the general election arrives, the real choices have already been made — in contests where independent voters had no voice. Over 90% of congressional seats are considered "safe" for one party, which means the primary is effectively the final election.
The result? Candidates who answer to party insiders and base voters, not to the broader public. Elected officials are incentivized to move to the extremes, because that's who shows up to vote in a closed primary.
These aren't private party events — they're publicly funded elections, administered by the government, paid for with taxpayer dollars. And yet, tens of millions of taxpaying voters are told they can't participate unless they first pledge allegiance to a political party.
Open primaries put all voters on equal footing.
Nonpartisan open primaries allow every registered voter to participate in every publicly funded election, regardless of party affiliation. All candidates appear on one ballot. The top finishers advance to the general election. Simple, fair, and democratic.
This isn't a theoretical idea. It's already working. In California, where IVP authored and passed the Top Two nonpartisan primary, nearly 40 million voters now participate in a system that doesn't require them to pick a party just to cast a ballot.
“Voters shouldn't have to ask permission from a political party to participate in an election paid for with their tax dollars.”
—Independent Voter Project
Sign the Petition
Add your name to the national petition for open primaries for every voter.
7,432 signed
Help spread the word about open primaries for every voter.
Independent reporting on primary reform, voter rights, and election accountability.
Visit IVN →We don't just talk about reform. We write it into law.
The Independent Voter Project has a track record that most reform organizations can only aspire to. We've gone beyond advocacy — we've authored, passed, and defended landmark election reform.
Authored California's Top Two Primary
The nonpartisan primary system now used by nearly 40 million Californians.
Defended it in federal court — and won
Establishing legal precedent for nonpartisan primary reform nationwide.
Building a national coalition
Working with Open Primaries and state-level partners across the country.
Deep legal expertise
Deep experience in election law, legislative strategy, and constitutional framework.
The status quo isn't neutral — it's a choice.
Every election cycle that passes with closed primaries intact is another cycle where the most powerful elections in the country exclude millions of eligible voters. Polarization deepens. Trust erodes. Accountability disappears.
Open primaries won't fix everything overnight. But they address the structural root of the problem: a system that rewards partisan loyalty over public service.
We Wrote California's Top Two Primary
IVP authored the nonpartisan Top Two primary system now used by nearly 40 million Californians — and successfully defended it in federal court. It's the foundation everything else is built on.
Ready to help fix the system?
Add your name to the national petition for open primaries for every voter. Or donate to fund legal action and grassroots reforms.