(The Center Square) – As the number of independent voters grows, there is broad bipartisan support among Pennsylvania voters for allowing the state’s 1.4 million independents to participate in primary elections, says a new poll.
Pennsylvania is one of only 14 states with closed party primaries. Implementing open or semi-open primaries would require changes to state election law, an issue currently being considered by lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly.
Data from Pennsylvania Voters First, a Unite America project, was announced during a recent webinar. The organization’s executive director, Nick Troiano, said Pennsylvania “has one of the very worst primary problems of any state in the country.”
He noted that 95% of House seats last year were noncompetitive and effectively decided during the primaries. In the general election, 81% of races had no opposing candidate. The report ranked the state 46 out of 50 nationwide.
As a result, Troiano said, only 6% of voters in the state cast a meaningful ballot that impacted the result of a competitive election.
“That’s a big challenge for representation in the state, for our democracy, and that’s something that, fortunately, can change,” he said.
Chris Perkins, a partner at Ragnar Research, presented the findings of a poll of 800 voters from across the commonwealth.
Of those surveyed, 43% were registered Republicans, 45% Democrats, and 12% Independents.
When Independents were asked which party’s primary they would choose to vote in if allowed, 22% said Republican, 25% said Democrat, 17% said neither, and 36% were unsure.
Perkins said 69% support a new law allowing more voters to participate in primary elections.
“In a nutshell…it’s a solid majority of voters of all stripes who want more primary participation,” he said.
Navy veteran Eric Bronner, founder and chief operating officer of Veterans for All Voters, described himself as a lifelong independent voter. He emphasized that 300,000 Pennsylvania veterans – roughly one in seven registered voters – are excluded from primary elections simply because they don’t belong to either major party.
“This reform is not about helping one side win,” he said. “It’s about rebuilding trust in a system that too often feels out of touch with everyday Americans.”
“When voters, especially those who have served, can fully participate, it strengthens the bond between we the people and our government,” Bronner continued. “Veterans are amongst the most trusted groups in the country, and for good reason, we’ve already served something bigger than ourselves, and we’re stepping up again, not to fight abroad, but to help fix what’s broken here at home.”
While past efforts to repeal the state’s closed primaries have failed, lawmakers are again introducing legislation.
House Bill 280, introduced in December by Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia along with more than 20 other Democratic co-sponsors, calls for open primaries. It has been referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration.
Sens. Daniel Laughlin, R-Erie, and Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem, are proposing similar legislation in the Senate to enact semi-open primaries.
In a semi-open primary, independent voters can choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. Those registered with a specific party may only vote in their own party’s primary. This differs from a fully open primary, in which voters can select candidates from any party regardless of affiliation.
There are 1.4 million Pennsylvania voters currently excluded from voting in the primaries, Sen. Lisa Boscola told The Center Square.
She pointed out that in many cases, there are no general elections for crucial elected offices – such as school board members, state representatives, and judges – denying independents the opportunity to weigh in on these consequential elections.
“Registering as a Democrat or Republican should not be a prerequisite to enjoy full voting rights here in Pennsylvania,” she said. “It’s time we fix this. Allowing independents to vote in primary elections is not just fair – it ensures that all Pennsylvanians have the freedom to choose the leaders who represent them.”
