Repeal Closed Primaries

Every spring, Pennsylvania's voters 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 independent voters are denied their right to vote in these elections, despite paying their share of $75 million a year to fund them.

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

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.

Join the overwhelming majority of PA voters in favor of ending closed primaries in PA – add your name below to join the movement to #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

Jill Diskin
Kelly Johnson
Matthew Marx
Daniel Hall
Charles Sharpless
Dianna P Stuckey
Jon Byler
Barry David
Patricia Mortenson
Regina Slenker
Randolph Yoder
Stephen Rubin
Norma Downie
Gail Skean-Johns
Jeffrey Foley
Kyle Brady
Matt Scharf
Beatriz Santos
Joyce Randall
Ken Stanzione
Joseph Will
Cole Mellinger
John Seitz
Peter Smith
Cindy Beers
Michael Waychoff
Joshua Wolfe
Charles J Cella
Kyle Rechenberg
Evan Cohick
4,233 signatures

Will you sign?

open primaries repeal closed primaries PA primary PA republican primary PA democratic primary Pennsylvania primaries closed primaries
  • Jill Diskin
    signed 2023-04-10 20:08:15 -0400
  • Kelly Johnson
    signed 2023-04-10 19:51:23 -0400
  • Matthew Marx
    signed via 2023-04-10 19:42:13 -0400
  • Daniel Hall
    signed 2023-04-10 16:02:47 -0400
    I grew up in Massachusetts where the primaries were open to those registered as independent. It was great. It is past time to make this happen in Pennsylvania. Keep up the good work and the pressure to change.
  • Charles Sharpless
    signed 2023-04-10 12:46:07 -0400
  • Dianna P Stuckey
    signed 2023-04-10 12:23:31 -0400
    Never did understand why primaries were closed. EVERYONE is entitled to cast their vote, not just declared Democrates or Republicians, all independents. How else can a true count be calculated on what the people want.
  • Jon Byler
    signed 2023-04-10 12:22:48 -0400
  • Barry David
    signed 2023-04-10 12:21:39 -0400
    Independent since registering to vote as an 18 year old in 1970 – same year I left for basic training. Changed once to vote in a PA primary, then back again soon thereafter when renewing driver’s license. ALLvote eligible citizens of Pennsylvania should be permitted to have their voice heard in ALL elections..
  • Patricia Mortenson
    signed 2023-04-10 11:58:37 -0400
    As an independent, I hear the private clubs (Democrats and Republicans) telling me that I must embrace all of their positions to belong. I prefer to keep my options open, and not commit until I have researched the positions of the candidates. I try to be informed and choose the best candidate for the job. This is my sworn duty as a voter. Both parties often choose poorly by choosing extreme candidates that would never get my vote. Opening the vote to people who seek the candidate that best matches their values would help to bring both parties back from the fringes to the center-point. We are certainly not centered at this time. Breathe, and center your political positions.
  • Regina Slenker
    signed via 2023-04-10 10:08:47 -0400
    I wish to open up the primaries to vote as independent.
  • Randolph Yoder
    signed 2023-04-10 09:52:19 -0400
  • Stephen Rubin
    signed 2023-04-10 09:16:27 -0400
  • Norma Downie
    signed 2023-04-10 08:55:54 -0400
  • Gail Skean-Johns
    signed via 2023-04-09 19:56:36 -0400
  • Jeffrey Foley
    signed via 2023-04-09 18:33:18 -0400
    This is a long needed thing to happen.
  • Kyle Brady
    signed via 2023-04-09 18:26:24 -0400
  • Matt Scharf
    signed via 2023-04-09 12:47:13 -0400
  • Beatriz Santos
    signed via 2023-04-09 08:00:02 -0400
    It’s always something with this government they say democracy but really they want more control over people so we stay uninformed puppets doing what they see as a democratic country BeAlishuz1
  • Joyce Randall
    signed 2023-04-08 23:41:49 -0400
  • Ken Stanzione
    signed 2023-04-08 14:55:24 -0400
    I support your efforts and ask whether any PA resident has sued the state for using our money while excluding certain taxpayers to fund two private organizations’ candidate choice procedure.
  • Joseph Will
    signed via 2023-04-08 11:06:56 -0400
    The flanks of each party carry too much sway in choosing candidates for general elections. Give power back to the middle of the electorate.
  • Cole Mellinger
    signed via 2023-04-08 10:48:55 -0400
  • John Seitz
    signed via 2023-04-08 07:30:04 -0400
  • Peter Smith
    signed 2023-04-07 19:11:44 -0400
  • Cindy Beers
    signed via 2023-04-07 17:38:43 -0400
  • Michael Waychoff
    signed via 2023-04-07 10:56:32 -0400
  • Joshua Wolfe
    signed via 2023-04-07 10:35:01 -0400
    I don’t give you the right to use my signature for anything other than removing the closed primaries. Im only registered as a republican because I want to vote in the primaries. But last election I wanted to vote dem in the primaries for a candidate who did not make it to the final. I felt unable to vote my true choice.
  • Charles J Cella
    signed via 2023-04-07 04:34:02 -0400
  • Kyle Rechenberg
    signed via 2023-04-06 18:58:01 -0400
  • Evan Cohick
    signed via 2023-04-06 13:26:17 -0400

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