Solomon, Rabb call for open primaries in PA

Legislation to open Pennsylvania’s primaries, H.B. 280, authored by state Reps. Jared Solomon and Chris Rabb, both D-Phila., was voted out of the House State Government Committee yesterday. “One-point-four million independent voters in Pennsylvania provide tax dollars to pay for primaries but have no vote,” Solomon said. “This must end. We must welcome veterans, young people, and other independents into our democratic process.” Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, meaning that only voters registered with a given party can vote in that party’s primary election. Voters who are unaffiliated or registered as a third party are prohibited from voting in a primary election. “There should be no second class among Pennsylvania’s electorate,” said Rabb, D-Phila., and co-sponsor of the bill. “Over 1 million voters are unduly disenfranchised in our state because they have chosen to exercise their right to remain unaffiliated with our restrictive political duopoly.” Read more