Sen. Devlin Robinson: Let independents vote in PA Primaries

Sen. Devlin Robinson writes in Pennlive:

The primaries are a huge opportunity to let voters make a difference in local politics. But if a large chunk of voters is not allowed to do so because they are independent, then no change can be made in their local communities. This could lead to empty party slots during the primary election which will give political parties the right to fill it with candidates of their choice.

The best way to encourage more people to head to the polls is allowing open or semi-open primaries in Pennsylvania. (A semi-open primary would allow independent voters to choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.) In these school board races, if independents had the right to vote, there would be greater competition, leading to a wider range of viewpoints being represented and a more diverse group of candidates.

In Pennsylvania, about 15% of voters are registered independent, and that number continues to surge. Since 2010, independent voter registration in the state has grown by 25%. That is a significant number of voters being left out of the primary election, well over a million and climbing.

It’s important to note that 49% of veterans are independent voters—folks who have honorably served our country and have a unique and meaningful perspective on government operations.