Election Law

Question: How do closed primaries weaken our democracy? Answer: They produce elected officials who are more accountable to their party than their constituents, they restrict participation while also reinforcing division, and they exclude independent voters (who are the largest, fastest-growing sector of the US electorate).

Our guest, a lawyer with the Brennan Center for Justice, recently wrote an analysis titled, "SCOTUS Rulings Last Term Show What to Look for Next."

Per unmuteok.org: "94% of Oklahoma elections are decided in the primary, not the general election. But Oklahoma has closed primaries. It's a bad system that shuts out 1 out of 5 voters who are Independent and limits the choices of Republicans and Democrats. We pay millions of dollars for these elections with our taxes. Oklahomans deserve an open system that lets all voters vote for who they want."

"Richly detailed.... Enriched by Bluestein's impressive access to insiders on both sides of the aisle, this is a valuable study of a state likely to play a big role in national politics for years to come." -- Publishers Weekly

"Richly detailed.... Enriched by Bluestein's impressive access to insiders on both sides of the aisle, this is a valuable study of a state likely to play a big role in national politics for years to come." -- Publishers Weekly

"Waldman's important and engaging account demonstrates that over the long term, the power of the democratic ideal prevails -- as long as the people so demand." -- The Washington Post

"Waldman's important and engaging account demonstrates that over the long term, the power of the democratic ideal prevails -- as long as the people so demand." -- The Washington Post

Our guest is Anthony Salvanto, the Director of Elections and Surveys at CBS News. He currently conducts all polling across the nation, states, and…

The Citizens United ruling, surely among the most controversial U.S. Supreme Court decisions of the modern era, was a 5-4 vote in 2010 affirming that the…

(Note: This show originally aired back in January.) Our guest on ST is Edward B. Foley, the Ebersold Chair in Law and Director of Election Law at the Ohio…