New York City could soon allow all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, to participate in primary elections for key local offices, following a sustained push by reform advocates and recent political developments.

Currently, New York holds closed primaries for positions including mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough presidents, and City Council members. This system excludes approximately 1.1 million voters who are not registered with any political party, limiting their ability to influence crucial local races. Advocates for open primaries argue that this approach aligns with practices in other major American cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston, where primaries are nonpartisan and inclusive of all registered voters.

Unite NY, a government reform organization, has led a petition campaign to place a referendum on the ballot to allow open primaries for local offices. The group collected 52,000 signatures and submitted 45,000—well above the 30,000 threshold required under the state’s Municipal Home Rule law. If the City Council does not act to place the proposal on the ballot, Unite NY can submit an additional 15,000 signatures to trigger a public vote. Therefore, New Yorkers could see the referendum either in this November’s election or in November 2027.

The issue of primaries has been under consideration for several years. The 2025 New York City Charter Revision Commission, established by Mayor Eric Adams and chaired by Rich Buery, received significant public input supporting open, nonpartisan primaries. The commission nearly included the measure on the upcoming ballot but ultimately retreated from the proposal amid concerns that opposing it might jeopardize broader housing-related reforms.

In his final hours in office, Mayor Adams formed a new commission led by his first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, which did endorse nonpartisan elections and forwarded the proposal to the City Clerk on May 27. The following day, the city’s mayor, supported by the new administration, activated a recently enacted state law intended to override the Adams/Mastro commission. This move led to the appointment of a competing commission chaired by Patrick Gaspard, which has not embraced the open primaries proposal despite widespread public support expressed during hearings.

The Mastro-led commission subsequently filed a lawsuit to challenge the state law’s validity. However, regardless of the court’s decision, Unite NY’s petition drive has ensured that the issue of open primaries will ultimately be put before voters.

Opponents of the open primary measure, including the current mayoral administration and allies, have favored maintaining closed primaries or pursuing other electoral reforms. The Gaspard commission’s omission of the open primaries proposal reflects these divisions. Still, the petition initiative ensures that voters will have the final say on whether New York City shifts to a more inclusive primary system.

If the referendum proceeds this fall as planned, it could mark a significant change in the city’s electoral landscape, expanding participation in the crucial first phase of local elections and aligning New York with other major urban centers. If delayed, the issue will remain on track for a public vote no later than November 2027.