Former New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Lucius Riccio has called for the implementation of open primaries in New York City to increase voter participation and improve candidate selection. Riccio argues that the current closed primary system, which restricts voting to registered party members, excludes a significant portion of the electorate—including independents—and results in nominees who may not represent the broader public interest.

Riccio notes that fewer than 10% of eligible voters participate in primary elections, which can lead to general election candidates who do not reflect majority preferences. He highlights endorsements for open primaries from figures such as former mayoral candidate Jim Walden, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and CNN commentator Michael Smerconish as evidence of growing support for reform.

However, Riccio cautions that not all forms of open primaries would be effective. He warns against adopting a nonpartisan blanket primary, commonly known as a jungle primary, in which all candidates compete regardless of party, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. In such a system, there is a risk that both finalists could belong to the same party, excluding the opposition entirely. Similarly, allowing voters to cross party lines freely could undermine party identity and distort candidate selection, potentially nominating individuals who do not align with party values or who are less competitive in the general election.

To address low participation among party members themselves, Riccio proposes a regulatory incentive that would affect ballot access based on turnout levels. Under this suggestion, if fewer than 30% of a party’s members vote in its primary, the party’s nominee would appear on the general election ballot marked with an asterisk; if turnout falls below 10%, the nominee would be excluded from the ballot entirely. This measure is intended to encourage parties to engage their members and nominate candidates with broader appeal.

Riccio advocates allowing registered independents to participate in primaries by permitting them to declare their intent to vote in a specific party’s primary at least one month prior to the election. To prevent strategic manipulation, only voters who have been registered as independents since the last election would qualify, and they would not be allowed to simultaneously register with any party. Furthermore, Riccio suggests that independent votes should count toward the minimum turnout threshold needed to avoid penalties on the party’s nominee.

While acknowledging skepticism toward political parties, Riccio emphasizes their role in fostering functional democratic competition. He contends that increasing voter engagement in primaries ultimately improves the quality of candidates and better reflects the will of the electorate, as opposed to allowing a small, often grievance-driven segment to determine nominees. He concludes that broadened participation can help restore an emphasis on responsible and capable leadership in New York City politics.