Take action this Fall to open Pennsylvania primaries!
By Diana Dakey, LWVPA Member at Large
While we wait for the budget process to conclude, let’s refocus on voting rights!
One set of bills that LWVPA has been watching closely are HB 976, HB 979, and SB 400. These three bills, while slightly different in the specifics, are similar in their purpose: To open Pennsylvania primaries to voters who are not registered with the Republican or Democratic Parties, also known as independent, unaffiliated, or unenrolled voters. LWVPA has not endorsed any particular bill, but it has held a long-standing position that Pennsylvania should abandon closed primaries and move to open or semi-open primaries.
Pennsylvania is one of only nine states with fully closed primaries, wherein only registered Republicans and registered Democrats may vote in a primary, shutting out 1.1-1.3 million voters or 10-13% of the Pennsylvania electorate. The bills are for semi-open primaries, wherein registered Republicans and registered Democrats will vote as usual on their party’s ballot, but unaffiliated voters will be allowed to vote on one-or-the-other party’s ballot.
Enactment of semi-open primaries can be brought about through normal legislation to make simple changes to the election code. (PA does not have a citizen initiative process to advance more ambitious changes.)
We, as League members, whose slogan is Empowering Voters – Defending Democracy, recognize that, in a time of political polarization, increased voter participation in primaries (primaries often being the deciding election) can improve candidate and legislator connection to a wider electorate and move politics beyond partisan posturing. More information about why we advocate for semi-open primaries was covered in LWVPA’s Ballot Box Basics talk earlier this year.
The number of independent voters has grown in recent years across the country and in Pennsylvania. Nationwide, the percentage of voters who identify as independent is much larger than the percentage of registered Democrats or Republicans. Approximately, half of veterans are registered as unaffiliated. A growing percentage of younger voters are not identifying with either party when registering to vote.
Bills to open Pennsylvania primaries to unaffiliated voters have been introduced in the past five-or-more legislative sessions, with “progress” in the form of hearings over the past three sessions (two Senate, two House) and wide bipartisan passage of SB 300 in the 2019-2020 Senate.
There is a hoped-for opportunity this fall to bring bill language to the floor as an amendment in the context of bills to move the date of the 2024 primary. What does opening primaries have in common with moving the 2024 primary? Just as primary voters should not have to give up voting due to a religious holiday (the original 2024 primary date conflicts with Jewish holidays), one should not have to give up the right to vote because of political-party affiliation. Given the bottleneck of rules for the committee process, a floor amendment may be our best chance for movement in the 2023-2024 legislative session.
Let’s get it done! How can League members help?
LWVPA has been working within the statewide coalition Ballot PA- repeal closed primaries. BallotPA.org has created an actionable email. With one click you can reach 44 legislators. The list of legislators was developed by Ballot PA and includes some leadership, cosponsors, and others.
Moreover, if each individual League member would commit to contacting their house and senate members, that would make a difference. A call, handwritten/mailed note, or personal drop-in will have more impact than an email.