HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The Pennsylvania State House passed a bill that would allow Independents to vote in the state’s primaries.
House Bill 280, proposed by State Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia), would allow an “unenrolled elector,” also known as an unaffiliated voter, to participate in primary elections by requesting either a Republican or Democratic Party ballot.
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Pennsylvania’s primary election system currently limits Republicans to vote for Republicans and Democrats to vote for Democrats, with no options for Independents or third-party voters.
The bill passed the House in bipartisan fashion, with 16 Republicans joining all but four House Democrats.
The bill now goes to the State Senate for consideration with nine days left in the legislative session.
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) said Tuesday afternoon that Senate Republicans will seek to tie voter ID to an open primaries bill.
“Current law requires a first-time voter to demonstrate they are who they say they are, and we see no reason that shouldn’t be enshrined as something consistently done when an individual exercises their right to vote,” said Pittman. “House Democrats’ continual unwillingness to include advancement of commonsense Voter ID is an impediment to the discussion of additional voting reforms.”
The legislation would “take effect immediately” if passed by the Senate and signed by the governor.
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