Public opinion on reforming U.S. primaries
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10764181 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Robert G Boatright (0000-0002-4770-393X, Department of Political Science Clark University Worcester Massachusetts USA), Caroline Tolbert (0000-0002-5229-6371, Department of Political Science University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa USA, corresponding author), Nathan K Micatka (0009-0002-7159-2704, Department of Political Science University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa USA) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 876-893 |
| Publication date | 2024-05-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Science Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-4941 • E-ISSN: 1540-6237 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/ssqu.13370 |
| OpenAlex | W4393054643 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 27 |
Objective Few studies have measured public attitudes about reform proposals for changing direct primaries. Despite strong public support over the past century for holding primaries, does the public want to change the direct primary, given its very low voter turnout and its potential role in fostering political polarization? Method Using a unique nationally representative survey of 3000 U.S. adults conducted in March 2023 by YouGov, this study shows that a majority of Americans support reform of primary elections. Results The reforms which receive the greatest support are those that seem more “democratic” such as establishing national congressional primary and holding open primaries. There is lower support for reforms that give political parties more control over selecting candidates, such as state party conventions. There are significant differences between Republicans, Democrats, and independents, while factors such as interest, education, gender, and race have a minimal impact. Individuals living in states with nonpartisan primaries are more favorable toward this specific reform, ranked‐choice voting, and open primaries, but primary type was not significant in regression models. Conclusions The public is opposed to reforms that give parties more say in choosing candidates, consistent with public sentiment a century earlier when the direct primary was adopted
Economics · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Policy Transfer and Learning · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies
Democracy More or Less
How the Tea Party Captured the GOP
The American Direct Primary
Congressional Primary Elections
Considerations of American Democracy, Feeling Like a Loser, and Support for Changing the Rules
Polls and Elections
Voter ID Laws
Understanding Preferences for Comprehensive Electoral Reform in the United States
Opinions of Public Men on the Value of the Direct Primary
Partisanship vs. Principle
Does Partisan Self-interest Dictate Support for Election Reform? Experimental Evidence on the Willingness of Citizens to Alter the Costs of Voting for Electoral Gain
Feelings of Political Efficacy in the Fifty States
The adoption of direct primaries in the United States
Partisan Predispositions and Public Support for Making It Easier to Vote
Framing Automatic Voter Registration
Understanding the Adoption of Voter Identification Laws in the American States
Meaningful Participation and the Evolution of the Reformed Presidential Nominating System
| Citations per year | 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |