Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Maine joins list of states with open primaries

Maine voters

Starting in 2024, unaffiliated voters in Maine will be able to vote in partisan primaries.

Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Legislation creating semi-open primaries in Maine went into effect Sunday, expanding the list of states that allow unaffiliated voters to participate in nominating contests.

The bill, which was approved by both chambers of the Legislature and allowed to become law by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills without her signature, allows people who are not registered with either party to participate in primary voting beginning in 2024.


As of July 2021, 36 percent of Maine registered voters are independent. Until this bill goes into effect in two years, the current, closed system remains in effect, meaning only voters registered with a party may vote in the primary.

The new system is considered “semi-open” because registered Democrats and Republicans will not be able to vote in the other party’s primaries.

“We are grateful that L.D. 231 has become law, enfranchising hundreds of thousands of independent voters,” said Kaitlin LaCasse, campaign manager for Open Primaries Maine. “The significant bipartisan support for semi-open primaries here in Maine is particularly notable during this time in which many states are considering the rollback of voter rights. It is a good day for democracy!”

Maine will continue to use ranked-choice voting in both its primary and general elections.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, nine states continue to use closed primaries, in which only voters who belong to a party may participate in that party’s nominating process.

The vast majority of states use some form of open primaries for congressional, state and local elections.

Made with Flourish

There are various forms of open primaries. Some states have systems like Maine’s, where independents can choose in which primary to vote. In a fully open primary, states do not require partisan registration and all voters can vote in the primary of their choice.

Some states go even further. California, Washington and (to an extent) Nebraska, run all candidates in one primary with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election. Alaska does the same but advances the top four finishers. And Louisiana doesn't have a primary. Instead, all candidates run in the general election and if no one gets a majority, the top two face each other in a runoff.

“Independent voters are now the largest group of voters in the country. Letting all voters vote may sound simple, but it’s a profound component of what it will take to improve democracy in Maine and around our great nation,” said Open Primaries Senior Vice President Jeremy Gruber.

Read More

Celebrating Congressional Excellence: Democracy Awards 2025
United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Celebrating Congressional Excellence: Democracy Awards 2025

In a moment of bipartisan celebration, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) will honor the winners of its 2025 Democracy Awards, spotlighting congressional offices that exemplify outstanding public service, operational excellence, and innovation in governance.

The ceremony, scheduled for this Thursday, September 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C., will recognize both Republican and Democratic offices across multiple categories, reinforcing the idea that excellence in Congress transcends party lines.

Keep ReadingShow less
Political Assassinations Are Part of the “Constitutional Rot” That Afflicts America
Gen Z and the Dangerous Allure of Political Violence
Gen Z and the Dangerous Allure of Political Violence

Political Assassinations Are Part of the “Constitutional Rot” That Afflicts America

Americans are learning that democracy is a fragile thing. If it is taken for granted, it can wither almost imperceptibly.

Signs of that withering are everywhere. I won’t rehearse them here.

Keep ReadingShow less
Meacham: Political Violence in America Linked to Deep Questions of Identity and Inclusion

"Who is an American? Who deserves to be included in ‘We the people" - Jon Meacham

AI generated illustration

Meacham: Political Violence in America Linked to Deep Questions of Identity and Inclusion

In a sobering segment aired on CBS Sunday Morning, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham addressed the escalating wave of political violence in the United States and its implications for the future of American democracy. Speaking with journalist Robert Costa, Meacham reflected on the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a string of violent incidents targeting political figures and institutions.

"We do not want to be in a place where, because you disagree with someone, you pick up a gun. That is not what the country can be. And if it is, then it's something different. It's not the America we want," he said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two speech bubbles overlapping each other.

Political outrage is rising—but dismissing the other side’s anger deepens division. Learn why taking outrage seriously can bridge America’s partisan divide.

Getty Images, Richard Drury

Taking Outrage Seriously: Understanding the Moral Signals Behind Political Anger

Over the last several weeks, the Trump administration has deployed the National Guard to the nation’s capital to crack down on crime. While those on the right have long been aghast by rioting and disorder in our cities, pressing for greater military intervention to curtail it, progressive residents of D.C. have tirelessly protested the recent militarization of the city.

This recent flashpoint is a microcosm of the reciprocal outrage at the heart of contemporary American public life. From social media posts to street protests to everyday conversations about "the other side," we're witnessing unprecedented levels of political outrage. And as polarization has increased, we’ve stopped even considering the other political party’s concerns, responding instead with amusement and delight. Schadenfreude, or pleasure at someone else’s pain, is now more common than solidarity or empathy across party lines.

Keep ReadingShow less