Reformers contend that voters report greater satisfaction with democracy when citizens have greater influence in party decisions. Whether voters idealise democratic principles at any cost however, remains unknown. We contend that the impact of party reforms also influence perceptions. In particular, voters favour reforms that foster increased participation and reduce disagreement between d ifferent party actors. Citizens appreciate reforms that exhibit democratic principles, but become more sceptical when reforms are found to have negative outcomes. We evaluate this perspective through two pre-registered survey experiments of UK residents that describe reforms to the mode of intra-party deliberation during the pandemic and the size of the selectorate for deciding the party leader. Respondents remain more supportive of reforms and satisfied with democracy when reforms purport to increase inclusivity, but also decrease disagreements within parties. Findings highlight a paradox in citizen perceptions. Citizens demand political organizations to foster inclusivity, but are wary of increasing ideological diversity.