Independent voters west of the Delaware River, on November 5, you will be able to vote for a candidate who has pledged to fight for your right to vote in primaries. 

Here’s the background: Pennsylvania and New York are two of only nine states with fully closed primaries. Independents (aka unaffiliated voters) who are not registered with any major or minor political party are barred from the polls. 

In most political units, the primary is the “real” election, because one of the major parties is consistently dominant. In the few competitive units, independents are forced to choose between two major party candidates at the general election after being excluded from the nomination process. 

Independents also are indirectly disenfranchised from school board elections, initiatives/referenda, special elections and other final contests that are scheduled on primary days, when independents are not used to going to the polls at all. 

East of the river, New York State is hopeless. The political bosses of the major parties have suppressed any attempt to reform the system. But there is hope in Pennsylvania. Courageous representatives in the House have succeeded in pushing the State Government Committee to approve two open-primary bills (HB979 and HB976). Under the new law, independents (voters not affiliated with any party) could choose to vote in either major party primary. Voters registered as members of any major or minor party, however, could not vote in a different party’s primary. Thus, the law would not enable “cross-over voting” or “party switching.” 

The major party bosses, however, are blocking the bills from being voted on in the full House. They know that their members would have a hard time explaining a “no” vote on these popular bills.

If you have the good fortune to reside west of the river in Pike or Wayne counties, within the 139th District lines, then you can vote for a candidate who has pledged to fight for open primaries, while her opponent is on record against. This confrontation occurred at the League of Women Voters PA debate on September 19. (Watch the full debate on YouTube at 139th Pennsylvania Legislative District Debate.)

In response to a question from the moderator, Robin Skibber said she supported open primaries, but Jeff Olsommer said he wanted the primaries to remain closed. If ending your disenfranchisement is important to you, vote for Robin Skibber. 

Arthur Block
Milford PA