“I’m not asking for a whole lot, I just want to vote”: Independent voters advocate to take part in primary elections

Independent and unaffiliated voters in Pennsylvania continue to protest the state s primary laws saying the state s voting laws exclude them unfairly from primary elections On Tuesday morning a small group gathered to march around Center City and speak out Pennsylvania is one of nine states that prohibit independent and unaffiliated voters from participating in primary elections what s known as closed primaries This issue is far-reaching stated David Thornburgh the chair of the Ballot PA Campaign to End Closed Primaries after the march ended on South Broad Street not far from the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts There are million independent voters in Pennsylvania that cannot participate in these elections and we think that s unfair and it s wrong and damaging to the process he mentioned Thornburgh the former president and CEO of Philly s Committee of Seventy emphasized being able to vote in local elections is crucial as these elected offices determine how basic services are provided to the area In Philadelphia a great number of elected offices are not contested by both parties so primary elections are essentially choosing the winner of the general voting process Folks are voting for local offices like district attorney controller and local judges he noted This isn t -foot presidential or gubernatorial elections These are folks that really influence the quality of life and the value of this city and the fact that tax-paying Independent voters in Philadelphia can t participate in that process it s just shameful These laws can be unfair to groups like veterans where there are large numbers of independent voters stated Dennis Miller the lead for Pennsylvania Veterans for All Voters If I m good enough to serve my country I should be able to vote whenever they open the polls he reported Dennis Miller the lead for Pennsylvania Veterans for All Voters mentioned he s not asking for a lot when he requests to be able to vote in primaries as an independent voter Violet Comber-Wilen Billy Penn Separate party and voting Miller explains that independent voters should be able to voice their opinions He disclosed being an unaffiliated voter completely means shedding labels and voting for whoever is getting the work done If I m concerned with the work that s being done that s one thing and being concerned about the party and the politics are something different he declared If I can separate the two then that s what I want to do The parties and politics I have no interest in My interest is in who s getting the work done It isn t reliably viable to align with a single party on all issues or candidates declared Harry Hou a attendee at Swarthmore College I am an unaffiliated voter he announced I do it not because I reject the Democrats or the Republicans but just that I m coming in with an open mind I don t have a strong slate of positions that align with either party As a college trainee Hou declared he feels strongly about empowering young voters He announced the current political situation has made a lot of young voters opt for the independent road A lot of young people go into the polls or to learn about the issues out there without preconceived notions he announced Sometimes parents and family members tell us about how to vote and what political positions are right But I think a lot of people are coming of age in a time where political discourse is fragmented and we are all trying to figure out what it means to be citizens in this world and various of us think being unaffiliated is just the right path Stifled voices The closed primary rule came from Pennsylvania s Balloting Code While initially intended as a way to adjustment and simplify the voting process it has turned into a restrictive and unfair process noted Jennifer Bullock coordinator of Independent Pennsylvanians What it s become is that the parties have taken over the primary and do not allow other voices even though it s a publicly funded voting and this is the first round of elections she mentioned Jennifer Bullock the coordinator of Independent Pennsylvanians carried around a sign at Tuesday s march that read I can t vote this day Ask me why Violet Comber-Wilen Billy Penn Thornburgh explained the groups rallied together Tuesday partially out of frustration over this structure I guess the the majority frustrating point is that independent voters help pay for these elections and still don t get to participate he reported Thornburgh emphasized the need for change in the future Here in the birthplace of liberty where we have an Independence Hall it s particularly frustrating that we re locking out independents Group members say the general reactions among voters and those passing by the protests were positive and supportive of independent voters participating in primaries There have been two bills introduced this legislative session to address opening the primary system one in the House and one in the Senate However the bills come with stipulations For example a House bill introduced by Democratic leadership would allow unaffiliated voters to participate in the Democratic or Republican primary but would not allow voters registered to third parties to participate in primary elections If passed these bills could lead to more open primaries in the future Bullock noted she is hopeful We are getting closer and closer to repealing closed primaries she noted Miller emphasized that the groups are not asking for much I m not asking for a whole lot he announced I just want to vote The post I m not asking for a whole lot I just want to vote Independent voters advocate to take part in primary elections appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY