A Group of Pennsylvania Lawmakers is moving to Open the State's Primary Elections to Unaffiliated Voters, creating a Semi-Closed Primary, adding Hundreds of Thousands of Potential Voters to Democratic and Republican Races each Spring.
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson 25th District), introduced a Bill to Expand the Major Party Primaries to those who have Registered to Vote, but who Decline to Affiliate with any Party. More than 740,000 Pennsylvania Voters would fall into that Category, Scarnati said.
“In our most recent primary election, only 18 percent of Pennsylvania’s registered voters went to the ballot box to cast a vote,” Scarnati said in a Memo to fellow Lawmakers this Summer. “The low turnout can in part be attributed to voters feeling disenfranchised by the extremes of both major parties, who have taken control of our primary process. Allowing more people the opportunity to have a voice in their representation is an important step toward ensuring democracy.”
As it stands, Pennsylvania Llaw allows Voters to Change their Party Identity Weeks before a Primary Election, this year, for example, Voters could Register up to April 16th to Vote in May 15th Primaries. Those who don’t make the cut are left to Vote only in the November General Election, a Lesser, or sometimes Non-Existent, choice for those who live in solidly Red or Blue Districts.
Under Scarnati’s Proposal, Unaffiliated Voters could Pick a Primary once they arrive at a Polling Place on Election Day. An Unaffiliated Voter would Pick just One Party’s Primary Ballot; the Decision would have No Bearing on Registration or Future Primary Choices. Nine other States, including neighbors West Virginia and New Jersey already follow similar Rules.
Fifteen more States hold Open Primaries, in which even Registered Democrats and Republicans can Cross Party Lines at the last minute and influence the other Party’s Nomination. Critics contend that System Dilutes Party Members’ Voices and allows for Ballot-Box Trickery.
Well over 1 Million Pennsylvania Voters are Registered outside the Two Major Parties. As of May in Blair County, 8,800 of 75,000 Voters were Registered to “Other”, many of them Unaffiliated.
Scarnati’s Proposal isn’t the only one on the Rolls in Harrisburg. Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana 62nd District), submitted a similar, although slightly differently worded, Bill in June. The Semi-Closed Primary Proposal, C-Sponsored by Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Osceola Mills 73rd District), was part of a raft of Government Reforms that included Redistricting and Committee Term Limits. “Too many races, especially local races, find finality in the spring election, and these voters should not be left out,” Reed told Colleagues.
Scarnati’s Bill is set to be heard in the Senate State Government Committee, while Reed’s is awaiting attention in the House Rules Committee.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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