MELANIE'S CORNER

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A new lawsuit filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court challenges Maryland’s closed primary system, aiming to grant nearly 1 million unaffiliated voters the right to participate in primary elections. Filed on May 28, 2025, by five unaffiliated voters and backed by the Open Primaries Education Fund, the suit claims the taxpayer-funded primaries violate the state constitution by excluding independents. “This lawsuit is meant to address a situation where publ

Five politically unaffiliated Maryland voters sued the state Board of Elections this week, claiming that taxpayer funding of closed primary elections in which they can’t vote violates their constitutional rights. In Maryland, Democratic and Republican primary elections are “partially closed.” The state’s nearly 1 million unaffiliated, Green Party and Libertarian voters may only participate in major party primary elections with permission from the respective party, even though

This nonprofit works nationally to promote open, nonpartisan primaries. In partnership with Independent Voters of Maryland, it champions...

This evolving document outlines the mission and messaging of Independent Voters of Maryland. It explains the group's primary goal—open...

Melanie Combs-Dyer of Let Us Vote MD advocates for a fundamental shift in Maryland’s election system—opening primaries to all voters,...

The 2018 LWVMD study found that in several Maryland counties, one-party dominance can exclude voters from meaningful electoral...

Following a comprehensive two-year study, the LWVMD officially endorsed open primaries in 2018. Their findings contributed to broader...

Our main outreach tool—this printable brochure succinctly explains who we are and why open primaries matter. Ideal for handing out at...

This in-depth report from the League of Women Voters details the findings from their multi-year study of Maryland’s primary system. It’s...

By Katherine M. Gehl and Michael E. Porter This analysis draws on business principles to examine how closed political systems harm...

By the USC Schwarzenegger Institute A data-driven evaluation shows that California's top-two primary model increases bipartisan behavior...

Renowned author Jared Diamond explores how systemic exclusion and polarization threaten American democracy. He warns that without reform,...

by Dona Sauerburger Written in 2020, with notes added in 2022 Polarization - an "us vs. them" mentality and being unwilling to listen to...

By John Opdycke, President of Open Primaries March 2, 2020 For weeks, the media has been whipping up hysteria about a sinister Donald...