Repeal Closed Primaries

This spring, Pennsylvania's voters will head to the polls for the Commonwealth's primary elections.

But not everyone is included in this process. That’s because primaries are closed in Pennsylvania.  More than 1.1 million taxpaying Independents are denied their right to vote in these elections, despite paying their share of $20 million a year to fund them.

It’s time to #RepealClosedPrimaries. That’s why Ballot PA has created a petition of our own - and anyone can sign it.

74% of Pennsylvanians support repealing closed primaries - including strong majorities of Independents, Democrats, and Republicans.

Repealing closed primaries would guarantee a more fair process, increase the competitiveness of races, and help limit the amount of extremism and gridlock on both sides.

It is time to #RepealClosedPrimaries and allow every legally registered voter to cast a ballot in PA’s primary. 

Legislators across the Commonwealth can change this unfair election practice by acting now to ensure voters their right to vote in PA primaries. 

Representation for all taxpayers is critical to voting and no political party stands to gain more than the other, with registered Independent voters split evenly in their choice of candidates. Instead, what we truly gain by repealing closed primaries is a fairer democracy.

Join the overwhelming majority of PA voters in favor of ending closed primaries in PA –  #RepealClosedPrimaries now.

 

Ballot PA is a project of the Committee of Seventy and is a growing coalition of civic, community and business organizations committed to ensuring independents in Pennsylvania have the right to vote in primary elections.

 

Who's signing

Anders Haunso
Nicholas Krawec
Brock Bevan
Jill McElwee
Patrick McElwee
Keena Minifield
Timothy Hartman
Finith Jernigan
Bill Newbold
Sara Schrader
Regina Kochmaruk
Terry Vonada
Laura Mull
Stanley Spotts
Steve DeFlitch
Michael Clime
Robert Jones
Karen Stark
Joann Chappell
Irison Feeny
Marni Reid
Tricia Smith
Gary Rothera
Patricia Grier
Don Gaerttner
Larry Weise
Patricia Ott
Timothy Green
Tom Levy
Lynn Meadows
2,781 signatures

Will you sign?

  • Anders Haunso
    signed via 2023-03-02 21:02:32 -0500
  • Nicholas Krawec
    signed 2023-03-02 20:42:21 -0500
  • Brock Bevan
    signed 2023-03-02 15:14:00 -0500
    Why is the public paying for these political parties to have a closed election? Let them pay for it out of their own pockets if the public cannot vote. I thought we lived in a democracy. Didn’t we fight a war about no taxation without representation. Remember? If I cannot vote, then you cover your own expenses. Further, both parties should have to reimburse the public for having covered these costs for this long.
  • Jill McElwee
    signed 2023-03-02 09:14:36 -0500
  • Patrick McElwee
    signed via 2023-03-02 09:12:17 -0500
  • Keena Minifield
    signed via 2023-03-01 19:44:28 -0500
  • Timothy Hartman
    signed via 2023-03-01 11:22:19 -0500
  • Finith Jernigan
    signed via 2023-02-28 18:20:53 -0500
  • Bill Newbold
    signed 2023-02-28 00:28:15 -0500
  • Sara Schrader
    signed 2023-02-27 09:55:50 -0500
  • Regina Kochmaruk
    signed via 2023-02-26 19:25:24 -0500
  • Terry Vonada
    signed via 2023-02-26 18:38:16 -0500
  • Laura Mull
    signed via 2023-02-24 23:04:01 -0500
    Absolutely support this, every single American should be able to vote for who they want..regardless of "affiliation "

    What would really level the “playing field” is to completely eliminate political affiliation. Why make Americans pick a side, why let a jackhole take office, not because of Merit. But because of straight party voting? Those elected should be there because they ran for office without a party to gold them up, I bet more people would vote if they could pick any candidate they wanted, rather than pick a side, rather than deal with the blue vs red drama they stay home rather than vote. ..but expecting political candidates to prove their worth by being a representative for ALL AMERICANS… well, that just makes too much sense to take traction….
  • Stanley Spotts
    signed via 2023-02-24 20:26:06 -0500
    This always bothered me. It’s why we had only Oz to run against the broken train wreck Fetterman for PA Senator.
  • Steve DeFlitch
    signed via 2023-02-24 16:46:41 -0500
  • Michael Clime
    signed via 2023-02-24 11:26:02 -0500
  • Robert Jones
    signed via 2023-02-23 13:52:14 -0500
  • Karen Stark
    signed via 2023-02-23 13:12:19 -0500
  • Joann Chappell
    signed 2023-02-22 19:38:58 -0500
  • Irison Feeny
    signed via 2023-02-22 15:57:15 -0500
  • Marni Reid
    signed via 2023-02-21 20:21:17 -0500
  • Tricia Smith
    signed via 2023-02-20 19:04:09 -0500
  • Gary Rothera
    signed via 2023-02-20 13:21:08 -0500
    We are both Independents registered as Democrats and we hate doing that so that we can vote. Its so unjustly unfair!
  • Patricia Grier
    signed via 2023-02-18 15:03:18 -0500
    I’m a independent I ,ve never knew that there are 1.3 Million voters yesss let shake it up 😅💜
  • Don Gaerttner
    signed via 2023-02-18 13:45:03 -0500
  • Larry Weise
    signed via 2023-02-18 13:06:55 -0500
  • Patricia Ott
    signed via 2023-02-18 10:20:31 -0500
  • Timothy Green
    signed via 2023-02-16 09:40:45 -0500
  • Tom Levy
    signed 2023-02-15 09:44:54 -0500
  • Lynn Meadows
    signed via 2023-02-13 22:58:57 -0500

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