Testimony for the New Mexico House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee in Support of NM SB 16, Primary Participation for Unaffiliated Voters
Testimony from:
Dr. Jonathan Madison, Governance Fellow, R Street Institute
Testimony in Support of NM SB 16, “AN ACT allowing voters who have not designated a party affiliation on their certificates of registration to participate in the primary election process”
March 03, 2025
New Mexico House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee
Chairwoman Johnson and members of the committee:
Thank you for considering my testimony today. My name is Dr. Jonathan Madison, and I am a Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization. Our mission is to engage in policy analysis and outreach to promote free markets, and limited, effective government in many areas, including election administration. This is why we have an interest in Senate Bill 16.
SB 16 improves voter access by allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections without requiring them to register with a political party in advance. Under this legislation, eligible voters who are not registered with a party would be able to select a party ballot at the time of the primary election, ensuring broader participation in the candidate selection process. By reducing the barriers that prevent unaffiliated voters from engaging in primaries, SB 16 would enhance voter access and strengthen elections in New Mexico.
A system that enables more voters to participate in primaries fosters legitimacy and trust in election outcomes. Nearly a quarter of New Mexico voters are unaffiliated and excluding them from primary elections means a large portion of the electorate has no say in the candidates who appear on the general election ballot.[1] Allowing broader participation ensures that nominees better reflect the preferences of the full electorate, not just a subset of voters.
Increased primary participation also encourages candidates to appeal to a wider range of voters. When more voters are engaged in the primary process, candidates must build broader coalitions, leading to nominees who are more representative and competitive in the general election.[2] This results in stronger general election candidates who have demonstrated their ability to earn support from a diverse electorate.[3]
SB 16 is a practical reform that expands participation while maintaining the integrity of New Mexico’s election system. By making primaries more inclusive, this bill ensures that more voters have a voice in shaping their choices for the general election. For these reasons, we encourage favorable consideration and passage of SB 16.
Thank you,
Dr. Jonathan Madison
Governance Fellow
R Street Institute
385-500-7537
jmadison@rstreet.org
[1] Danielle Prokop, “Bill to Allow Independents to Vote in Primaries Passes First Committee,” Source New Mexico, February 12, 2025, https://sourcenm.com/2025/02/12/bill-to-allow-independents-to-vote-in-primaries-passes-first-committee/.
[2] Joshua Ferrer, Michael Thorning, and J. D. Rackey, “The Effect of Open Primaries on Turnout and Representation” Bipartisan Policy Center, October 2024, https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/the-effect-of-open-primaries-on-turnout-and-representation/.
[3] Sarah Anderson, Daniel Butler, and Laurel Harbridge-Yong, “The Electoral Challenge of Balancing Primary and General Electorates” Institute for Policy Research – Northwestern University, February 10, 2023, https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/our-work/working-papers/2023/wp-23-07.html.