Independent and unrelated voters in Pennsylvania are still protesting against the main provisions of the state – claiming that the provisions regarding the vote of the state exclude them unfairly from the primary elections. On Tuesday morning, a petite group gathered to march around the City Center and speak.
Pennsylvania is One of the nine states This prohibits the independent and unrelated voters of participation in primary elections – so -called “closed basic”.
This problem is “far -reaching,” said David Thornburgh, chairman of the PA voting campaign to finish the basic closed, after the march at South Broad Street, near Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
“There are 1.4 million independent voters in Pennsylvania who cannot participate in these elections, and we think it is unfair, and this is bad and harmful to this process,” he said.
Thornburgh, former president and general director of the Philly committee from seventy years, emphasized that the possibility of voting in local elections is crucial – because these selected offices determine how basic services are provided. In Philadelphia, many selected offices are not questioned by both parties, so the basic elections are essentially choosing the winner of universal elections.
“People vote for local offices, such as the District Prosecutor, Controller and Local Judges,” he said. “This is not a presidential or governor election at 50, 000 feet. They are people who really affect the quality of life and the value of this city and the fact that 150,000 paid, independent voters [in Philadelphia] I can’t take part in this process, it’s just shameful. ”
These provisions may be unfair to groups such as veterans, where there are a immense number of independent voters, said Dennis Miller, the main Pennsylvania veterans for all voters.
“If I’m good enough to serve my country, I should be able to vote every time they open the polls,” he said.
A separate party and voting
Miller explains that independent voters should be able to express their opinions. He said that being an optional voter simply means dropping labels and voting for anyone who “performs work”.
“If I am worried about the work that is done, then one thing, and concern with party and politics are something different,” he said. “If I manage to separate these two, then I want. Pages and politics that I am not interested in. My interest is who performs work.”
Harry Hou, a student of Swarthmore College, is not always possible with one page on all issues or candidates.
“I am an unfiled voter,” he said. “I do it not because I reject democrats or Republicans, but I just come in with an open mind. I don’t have a strong list of positions that are in line with either side.”
As a student of College, Hou said that he felt strongly to strengthen youthful voters. He said that the current political climate meant that many youthful voters chose an independent path.
“Many young people enter the polls or learn about problems without prejudices,” he said. “Sometimes parents and family members tell us about how to vote and what political positions are right. However, I think that many people take place at a time when political discourse is crushed and we all try to find out what it means to be citizens in this world, and many of us think that being not related to the right path.”
Muffled voices
The closed basic rule comes Electoral Code in Pennsylvania from 1937. Although initially intended as a way to reform and simplify the voting process, it turned into a restrictive and unfair process, said Jennifer Bullock, coordinator of independent Pennsylvania.
“It happened that the parties took over the basic and do not allow other votes, although they are elections financed by the audience, and this is the first round of elections,” she said.
Thornburgh explained that the groups gathered on Tuesday, partly from frustration because of this structure.
“It seems to me that the most frustrating issue is that independent voters help pay for these elections and still cannot participate,” he said.
Thornburgh emphasized the need for future changes.
“Here, at the place of the birth of freedom, where we have a hall of independence, especially frustrating, we block independent.”
Members of the group say that the general reactions among voters and protests passing through the protests were positive and supported independent voters participating in the basic foundations.
There were two bills He introduced this legislative session To open the basic system – one in the chamber and one in the Senate. However, bills have provisions. For example, the House Act introduced by democratic leadership would allow unfiled voters to participate in a democratic or republican basic basic one, but would not allow voters to be registered third parties to participate in basic elections.
If it was adopted, these bills may lead to more basic open in the future. Bullock said he was hoping.
“We are approaching the revocation of the basic closed,” she said.
Miller emphasized that the groups are not asking much.
“I don’t ask much,” he said. “I just want to vote.”
