What’s the deal with Montana’s primary system?

You may be hearing a lot this election season about “open primaries.” Unfortunately, our June primary election has a much lower participation rate than the November general election, and many Montanans aren’t aware of how our current primary system is structured in a way that restricts their freedom and limits their choices.

Currently, Montana has what is called a partisan primary. Montana voters do not register with a political party, but voters do have to choose just one partisan ballot to vote on in June. Why is that a problem? Because it inherently restricts voter choice, especially for voters who consider themselves independent or want to vote cross-party.

Many Montanans want to be able to vote for the person, not the party, but when they are forced to choose one party’s ballot, they are shut out from voting their preference for a candidate of a different party. This is especially harmful for independent or third-party voters who are forced to choose a ballot with a slate of candidates who don’t match their values if they want to have any say in the election at all.

Open primaries change that. With a top-four open primary, all voters are able to choose between all qualified candidates, regardless of political party. Candidates can and will still choose to affiliate with a political party, just like under our current system. CI-126 doesn’t change or remove political party affiliation. It just gives voters more and better choices on the ballot.

What about third-party ballot access? Many voters are concerned that under an open primary system, third-party candidates will be shut out of the process.

Thankfully, the opposite is true! CI-126 specifically protects the current signature-gathering threshold for third-party candidates to get on the ballot. The legislature can lower that threshold, making it even easier for candidates who don’t affiliate with the Republican or Democratic party to run for office, but under CI-126, they cannot make it harder. This was an important provision included in the initiative that protects ballot access under the Montana constitution, rather than leaving it up to future legislatures to decide. 

So why does Montana need open primaries? To take the power away from political parties and special interests and put it back in the hands of Montana voters. Open primaries mean better choices on the ballot, the freedom to vote for the person instead of the party, and more power to hold politicians accountable. CI-126 puts voters first.