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

Jayson Massey
Talmadge Belo
Ellen Sleeter
James Lee
Greg Hoover
James Morris
Betty Cauler
Jennifer Smith
Janet Werner
Molly Peterson
Nancy Avolese
Irvine Yohe
Benjamin Fetter
Clifford Burton
Michael Anceravige
Rob Tribuiani
Jennifer Brady
Kasandara Sullivan
Kelly Kulp
Kelly Nave
William Weibel
Zachary Safran
Gavin Mlinar
Tawnda Magargal
George Aman
Janis Johnson
Marie Moran
James Mills
Robert Grow
Jo Bitzer
2,781 signatures

Will you sign?

  • Jayson Massey
    signed 2023-01-28 16:08:12 -0500
    Open primaries helps safeguard democracy via additional participation. It also helps to curb extremists from getting into the general election, providing better races going forward.
  • Talmadge Belo
    signed 2023-01-28 15:03:34 -0500
    Talmadge Belo Jr.
  • Ellen Sleeter
    signed 2023-01-28 13:39:46 -0500
    I may have signed this already. I watched the hearings held earlier in the year, and was pleased that this topic came up AGAIN last night, Jan 27, on the “listening tour.” I’m appalled by how many PA veterans have been disenfranchised in primaries over the years. I’m very sympathetic to their feelings of dislocation and feeling left behind. And they can’t exercise their franchise? Ouch!
  • James Lee
    signed 2023-01-28 12:59:57 -0500
  • Greg Hoover
    signed via 2023-01-25 17:59:15 -0500
    Should have been repealed years ago, when I was a registered independent.

    What took you so long??

    We need OPEN primaries…NOW!
  • James Morris
    signed via 2023-01-24 17:51:20 -0500
  • Betty Cauler
    signed 2023-01-24 16:22:56 -0500
  • Jennifer Smith
    signed 2023-01-23 19:01:38 -0500
  • Janet Werner
    signed via 2023-01-21 18:06:22 -0500
  • Molly Peterson
    signed 2023-01-20 20:55:12 -0500
  • Nancy Avolese
    signed via 2023-01-20 17:36:01 -0500
  • Irvine Yohe
    signed via 2023-01-19 21:00:01 -0500
  • Benjamin Fetter
    signed 2023-01-19 15:23:17 -0500
  • Clifford Burton
    signed via 2023-01-19 06:35:31 -0500
    I do agree, everyone should be able to vote in primaries regardless of their political affliation.


    CAB
  • Michael Anceravige
    signed via 2023-01-18 17:08:04 -0500
    Repeal Closed Primaries!!!!!
  • Rob Tribuiani
    signed 2023-01-18 10:23:21 -0500
  • Jennifer Brady
    signed 2023-01-18 03:42:59 -0500
  • Kasandara Sullivan
    signed via 2023-01-17 08:36:16 -0500
    While I don’t believe Republicans and Democrats should be able to vote on each other’s primaries, independents should have the right to vote in one primary of their choosing.
  • Kelly Kulp
    signed 2023-01-16 22:59:06 -0500
  • Kelly Nave
    signed via 2023-01-16 09:03:18 -0500
  • William Weibel
    signed via 2023-01-15 20:13:34 -0500
  • Zachary Safran
    signed via 2023-01-15 18:26:41 -0500
  • Gavin Mlinar
    signed 2023-01-15 11:03:08 -0500
  • Tawnda Magargal
    signed via 2023-01-15 09:27:17 -0500
  • George Aman
    signed 2023-01-14 17:15:07 -0500
  • Janis Johnson
    signed 2023-01-14 11:40:54 -0500
  • Marie Moran
    signed via 2023-01-14 10:41:34 -0500
  • James Mills
    signed via 2023-01-14 08:37:23 -0500
  • Robert Grow
    signed via 2023-01-14 08:11:20 -0500
  • Jo Bitzer
    signed 2023-01-14 07:07:30 -0500

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