It is my personal opinion that in order to realize all the change that we want to see in society -- whether it be economic or social justice reform, environmental policy, or anything else -- we first need to reform the system that is to blame for the inequalities and injustices in our country. Those who are to blame for the failures of our society need to be held accountable, and our current electoral system does not hold anyone accountable. Closed primaries are the reason that our Congress can maintain a 16% approval rating and yet our US Representatives and Senators are able to stay entrenched in office for decades on end. Nearly 90% of elections are determined in the primary, but only 10% of voters participate in primary elections. That means that only 10% of this country selects 90% of our elected officials, and that 10% tends to consist almost exclusively of party stalwarts and ideological extremes. By opening up the primaries, you force candidates to appeal to ALL voters. Open primaries reduce polarization and force candidates to debate on concrete policy, rather than just tow the party line and point fingers at the opposition. Since California adopted top-two open primaries a few years ago, the state's approval rating of the its legislature has increased by fourfold. That should be a telling sign for voters: open the primaries in all states. This is why I believe in open primaries, and this is what we’ll be saying at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this weekend. In solidarity, Jesse Shayne Digital Communications Specialist Open Primaries