From the Committee of Seventy (https://www.seventy.org/):
This spring, Pennsylvania’s voters will head to the polls for the Commonwealth’s primary elections.
But not everyone is included in this process. That’s because primaries are closed in Pennsylvania. More than 1.1 million taxpaying Independents are denied their right to vote in these elections, despite paying their share of $20 million a year to fund them.
It’s time to #RepealClosedPrimaries. That’s why Ballot PA has created a petition of our own – and anyone can sign it. Sign now at https://www.ballotpa.org/petition.
74% of Pennsylvanians support repealing closed primaries – including strong majorities of Independents, Democrats, and Republicans.
Repealing closed primaries would guarantee a more fair process, increase the competitiveness of races, and help limit the amount of extremism and gridlock on both sides.
It is time to #RepealClosedPrimaries and allow every legally registered voter to cast a ballot in PA’s primary.
Legislators across the Commonwealth can change this unfair election practice by acting now to ensure voters their right to vote in PA primaries.
Representation for all taxpayers is critical to voting and no political party stands to gain more than the other, with registered Independent voters split evenly in their choice of candidates . Instead, what we truly gain by repealing closed primaries is a fairer democracy.
Join the overwhelming majority of PA voters in favor of ending closed primaries in PA – #RepealClosedPrimaries now.
Ballot PA is a project of the Committee of Seventy and is a growing coalition of civic, community and business organizations committed to open and free elections in Pennsylvania that lead to responsive and accountable government.
THE ISSUE
Pennsylvania’s closed primary elections shut out more than one million voters from important elections every year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, nearly 1.1 million voters are registered as unaffiliated with a political party or Independent. This segment of the state’s electorate has been increasing for years – and is now the fastest growing segment of voters – consistent with a national trend of voters identifying as independents. But in Pennsylvania, these voters are prevented from participating in the local, state and federal primaries that are likely the most important elections in their communities.
From local council or commissioner to the U.S. presidency, more than one out of every seven registered voters are barred from having a say in a critical part of the electoral process. This occurs despite the fact that primaries, which cost ~$20 million each spring, are funded with tax dollars from every Pennsylvanian regardless of their political affiliation. That’s why it’s time to repeal PA’s closed primaries.
Th current system guarantees that fewer voters participate, elections are less competitive and, ultimately, political polarization is reinforced, contributing to legislative gridlock and hampering good governance.
Ballot PA believes in:
- Fairness in representation: More than one million Pennsylvanians are shut out of primary elections that often determine who represents them.
- No taxation without representation: Primary elections are funded with tax dollars from every Pennsylvanian regardless of whether they can participate.
- Accountability in elections: Public officials should be accountable to the electorate at large, not party bases.
THE SOLUTION
Repealing Closed Primaries in Pennsylvania will ensure that ALL voters matter and ALL votes count.
Ballot PA supports the repealing the closed primary process for Pennsylvania’s elections. However, there are numerous other election systems to consider, and we encourage an informed debate around which would best serve the voters and the Commonwealth.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are six types of primary elections, all of which are more inclusive and include a broader swath of the electorate than the closed primary system used in Pennsylvania. Several variations include:
- Open to Unaffiliated Voters – Unaffiliated voters can participate in any party primary they choose, but voters who are registered with one party are not allowed to vote in another party’s primary.
- Open – Voters may choose privately in which primary to vote.
- Top-Two – Every voter, regardless of party registration, uses the same ballot listing all candidates. The top two vote-getters in each race, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
New legislation introduced in the PA General Assembly would allow the 1.1 million independent and unaffiliated voters shut out of primary elections in Pennsylvania to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot. We support this legislation and urge members of both parties to sign on.
Closed primaries have been used in the Commonwealth for generations. But our politics have changed; our communities have changed; our voters have changed. So should our elections.
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