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Back in 2003, New York City voters overwhelmingly defeated a plan to end partisan political primaries and open up the process to all registered voters -- not just those in a political party. Citizens Union, a leading government watchdog group, opposed it then but has since changed its position and is now going to bat for nonpartisan elections. On Monday, the group pleaded its case before the city's Charter Revision Commission at a meeting in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

"A million five New Yorkers are disenfranchised from voting in the most decisive elections that affect them and their representative government," said Dick Dadey of Citizens Union.

Those 1.5 million New Yorkers Dadey referred to are registered voters, but are not registered Democrats. In a heavily Democratic city like New York, where many political races are effectively decided in the Democratic primary, their votes often hold little sway in a general election.

Some Democratic party heavyweights are blasting the plan, even though it appears to have little likelihood of going before voters this fall. They argue an end to partisan primaries would be a boost to wealthy, self-financed candidates.

"For a lot of us, when we see something we think could literally undermine the Democratic process. That literally could change the democratic process in the city for the worse, we can't take it idly," said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

"Partisan elections increase turnout. When you have an exciting race where you can understand where the candidates are coming from, that's why you have democrats and republicans, millions of people will turn out and vote," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

Citizens Union says the system needs reform and points to declining voter participation rates as evidence. It is calling for a so-called top two election system, where the top two vote getters in an open primary advance to the general election. They argue the change would ensure that all registered voters have a direct say in choosing their representatives.

"We heard things tonight that we need to discuss among ourselves and that is still going to take a little time," said Charter Revision Commission Chairman Matthew Goldstein.

The commission chairman says he is not ruling out the possibility that nonpartisan elections could be on the ballot this fall. However, he has not signaled that such a move is likely.