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Should PA primaries become open primaries? At least one big hurdle remains
(link) https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/04/pa-primary-election-2023-indepedents-third-party/
HARRISBURG — Lawmakers and advocates who support opening Pennsylvania’s primary elections to over a million independent voters hope the legislature will take action this year, but at least one key senator stands in their way.
Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan spring elections. This means only those voters have a say in which candidates from those parties will face off in the November election, excluding the 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania who are registered to a third party or who are unaffiliated.
(Unaffiliated and third-party voters, however, are still able to participate in special elections that coincide with the spring primary, as well as vote on ballot referendums and other local initiatives.)
Good-government advocates and a small group of lawmakers have been trying to open Pennsylvania’s primary system for more than 20 years. Though the change has bipartisan support and has gained traction in recent legislative sessions, it has never passed both the state House and Senate.
Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan spring elections. This means only those voters have a say in which candidates from those parties will face off in the November election, excluding the 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania who are registered to a third party or who are unaffiliated.
(Unaffiliated and third-party voters, however, are still able to participate in special elections that coincide with the spring primary, as well as vote on ballot referendums and other local initiatives.)
Good-government advocates and a small group of lawmakers have been trying to open Pennsylvania’s primary system for more than 20 years. Though the change has bipartisan support and has gained traction in recent legislative sessions, it has never passed both the state House and Senate.
- more at link -
This is a big issue with the current session in Harrisburg. If the 2022 gubernatorial primary had been open. the chances are very good that Doug Mastriano would not have been chosen as the Repuke candidate. The nomination might have gone to a more promising middle-of-the-road candidate such as Dave McCormick. The initiative seems to have bipartisan support, so maybe this year the bill will pass both Houses.
