Efforts through legislation and court challenges aim to allow Pennsylvania’s 1.4 million independent voters to participate in primary elections currently limited to registered Democrats and Republicans. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt explained the current law, saying, “Only registered Democrats and registered Republicans can vote for candidates who are running in their primaries.”He noted the exceptions for Independent voters, saying they can vote on ballot questions.Advocates for change, including Jeff Jalbrzikowski, Pittsburgh area leader of Veterans for All Voters, are pushing for open primaries in the state.”What we want to see are open primary elections in all 50 states. We believe, and statistics show, that there’s more democratic representation when everyone has a choice in those primary elections,” Jalbrzikowski said. State Rep. Jared Solomon is advocating for House Bill 280, which he hopes will be brought to a vote this year.”What House Bill 280 would do is say, we are going to roll out the welcome mat. We are going to welcome the veterans and young people and the diverse coalition into the primary system in PA, as 40 other states do. We want your energy. We want your voice and vote. And you are going to be able to affiliate with either the Republican or Democratic Party in each primary in Pennsylvania,” Solomon said. A similar effort is underway in the state Senate with Senate Bill 400. In addition to legislative efforts, a group of activists and community leaders has filed a lawsuit against the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, asking the court to “declare Section 2812, as applied to independent voters, unconstitutional.”The lawsuit argues that Section 2812 of the state election code “artificially gives more power to voters who join major political parties than those who have registered as independent voters.” Jalbrzikowski, who registered with a party to vote in the primary, expressed hope for future change.”As civically engaged citizens, we should do what we can right now to represent those ideals. Maybe don’t worry so much about the party, but focus on the ideals that you do believe and you can support in whatever party that will let you walk through that door tomorrow and submit a ballot,” he said. Polls across Pennsylvania open Tuesday at 7 a.m.
Pennsylvania —
Efforts through legislation and court challenges aim to allow Pennsylvania’s 1.4 million independent voters to participate in primary elections currently limited to registered Democrats and Republicans.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt explained the current law, saying, “Only registered Democrats and registered Republicans can vote for candidates who are running in their primaries.”
He noted the exceptions for Independent voters, saying they can vote on ballot questions.
Advocates for change, including Jeff Jalbrzikowski, Pittsburgh area leader of Veterans for All Voters, are pushing for open primaries in the state.
“What we want to see are open primary elections in all 50 states. We believe, and statistics show, that there’s more democratic representation when everyone has a choice in those primary elections,” Jalbrzikowski said.
State Rep. Jared Solomon is advocating for House Bill 280, which he hopes will be brought to a vote this year.
“What House Bill 280 would do is say, we are going to roll out the welcome mat. We are going to welcome the veterans and young people and the diverse coalition into the primary system in PA, as 40 other states do. We want your energy. We want your voice and vote. And you are going to be able to affiliate with either the Republican or Democratic Party in each primary in Pennsylvania,” Solomon said.
A similar effort is underway in the state Senate with Senate Bill 400.
In addition to legislative efforts, a group of activists and community leaders has filed a lawsuit against the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, asking the court to “declare Section 2812, as applied to independent voters, unconstitutional.”
The lawsuit argues that Section 2812 of the state election code “artificially gives more power to voters who join major political parties than those who have registered as independent voters.”
Jalbrzikowski, who registered with a party to vote in the primary, expressed hope for future change.
“As civically engaged citizens, we should do what we can right now to represent those ideals. Maybe don’t worry so much about the party, but focus on the ideals that you do believe and you can support in whatever party that will let you walk through that door tomorrow and submit a ballot,” he said.
Polls across Pennsylvania open Tuesday at 7 a.m.