How a Primary Vote can Combat Polarization

The red hot brand of polarization is once again searing our society in this election season. As the heat turns up, it feels like everyone’s emotions could use a cold plunge to temper the climate. While the November election is a big deal, few seem to remember how we landed with the current candidates. In fact, the very vehicle that brought us these candidates is coming up in several states, my voting state of Florida included, and that would be the political primaries. If you’re like most Americans, even faithful general election participants, voting in the primary is not a priority. In fact, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a meager 21.3% of eligible voters participated in the 2022 primary elections, and we know that the 20% number is relatively consistent for primary turnout over the years. This means a disturbingly low 1/5 of the voting eligible population in the US contributes their voice to selecting the candidates in a general election.?

It should not be surprising that this is an element that contributes to political polarization. Research from the Carnegie Endowment for Peace reveals that those most likely to vote in political primaries are the most extreme members of their respective parties. Additionally, since about half of states have a closed primary process, registered independents, making up a little over 40% of the electorate, are unable to participate in their state’s primary election. Thus, a system is created where the average primary voter is in no way reflective of the average American. In fact, primary voters are usually at polar ends of the ideological spectrum. And who do politically extreme primary participants tend to vote for? Usually the most extreme candidates, thus creating an incentive structure for each of the parties to trot forward and support candidates that reside at opposite ends of the ideological political spectrum. This is a complicated issue, and the parties are direct contributors to the problem as they have found success in pushing more extreme candidates since the 1980s (Carnegie Endowment for Peace, 2023). The result is that in the general election, the average American is faced with candidates that are ideologically polarized and are a poor reflection of their views. Research has shown that the most polarized members of our society, according to their ideological beliefs, are opposite party members of Congress. It’s no wonder we have political gridlock in Washington.?

A simple solution to help resolve this problem: Primary Participation! American political participation has plummeted as political efficacy has continued to decline in the US (Pew Research 2015, 2022). This is even more true in the primaries where dreadful turnout drives the aforementioned polarization of candidates. If more Americans were consistently engaged in political primaries, the parties would have to strategically shift to put forward candidates that better reflect the views of the majority, rather than the raucous voices of fringe party minorities. The iron of polarization is hot, but rather than letting it burn our society let’s meld it into something useful—actual engagement from citizens.?

Another benefit to primary participation is an awareness of local political races and consistent political engagement. One vote and one voice admittedly makes little difference on a national scale. However, in a local community, one voice, which has constructive conversations with friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors can exert potent influence on local politics—city, county, and even state wide.?

It’s easy to be frustrated by our politics. It’s easy to type a tirade about the tyranny of the justice system, the party system, or whomever may have raised your ire. Everyone can relate to these sentiments! But it is also quite easy to vote, and a far more effective use of one’s energy and time. So if you are tired of polarization, try constructive political engagement through primary participation.?