Shawn Griffiths
The 2026 midterms are still weeks away, but for most Americans the outcome of their congressional race has already been decided, and they had little or no say in it.
Now, new polling finds that voters are not satisfied with the process that gave them their November choices.
IVN has written thousands of articles (literally) about the impact partisan primaries have on elections and the political process in the US.
This includes how in every election cycle 90% of US House races are effectively determined in party primaries by just 9% of voters.
This is due to a number of factors, including partisan gerrymandering and geographical self-sorting (Republicans like to live with Republicans; Democrats like to live with Democrats).
As a result, most congressional districts are safe for the Republican or Democratic Party. Whoever wins the dominant party’s nomination is all but guaranteed to win in November.
And odds are the winner is chosen by only a handful of the voting age population.
This week, a survey conducted by Emerson College Polling for RealClear Opinion Research and sponsored by the Unite America Institute shows voters are not only aware of this problem but want the system changed.
According to the results, 56% of respondents support replacing traditional party primaries with open, all-candidate primaries. Only 29% oppose the idea.
Open, all-candidate primaries are elections in which all voters and candidates participate on a single ballot, regardless of party preference. Any voter can vote for any candidate in any race.
This type of primary model is used in 3 states: California (Top Two), Washington (Top Two), and Alaska (Top Four).
“Voters are experiencing the ‘Primary Problem’ in real time,” said Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano.
“Most congressional races were effectively decided before November by a small and unrepresentative share of voters. Candidates were rewarded for appealing to partisan bases, millions of voters lacked meaningful choices and Congress remains unable to address the problems affecting people’s lives.”
But there’s more. The survey further highlights that voters increasingly understand the incentives that partisan primaries create.
- Only 18% said the primary process encourages candidates to appeal to a broad majority.
- 59% believed party primaries contribute to political division
- 62% said wealthy donors, special interests, and Super PACs have too much influence
Here is the core of the issue: When a small, highly engaged and motivated partisan base decides who holds office, candidates have no incentive to court the broader electorate.
When candidates have no incentive to court the broader electorate, most voters are denied meaningful choice and representation.
And when participation in the most consequential elections is limited to a small segment of the voting age population, every dollar spent by monied interests has a greater impact.
Most Voters Sat It Out — Or Were Shut Out
Only 25% of the survey’s respondents reported voting in a primary election this year. Among independents, the number dropped to 17%.
But that low turnout should not be confused with apathy.
More than a quarter of independent voters who said they didn’t vote also said they were ineligible to participate under their state's primary rules.
In other words, a significant share of the fastest-growing segment of the electorate was locked out of the elections that decided most of Congress.
Voters across the spectrum think that's wrong.
While a majority said they support open, all candidate primaries, under a partisan primary process, more than 70% said all voters—including independents—should be able to participate.
Just 29% said participation should be limited to registered party members.
Congress Isn't Working, and Voters Know It
If there is one clear takeaway from the survey, it is that the system is not working for most voters—party members and independents alike.
Seventy-four percent of respondents said Congress is not effectively addressing the country's biggest problems, including the cost of living, health care, immigration, and AI.
This includes 82% of Democrats, 75% of independents, and 65% of Republicans.
Few issues in American politics generate that kind of cross-partisan consensus. But is it really a surprise when 90% of voters had zero say in who represents them?
There is now a greater understanding among the general public that if they want better politics, then the US needs fairer, more inclusive elections.
Closed and partisan primaries are only making things worse because they create incentives that make things worse.