Independent voters ask court to declare Pa.'s closed primaries unconstitutional
2 days ago
- #Pennsylvania
- #Primary Elections
- #Voter Rights
- A group of independent voters in Pennsylvania is challenging the state's ban on their participation in party primary elections, arguing it's unconstitutional.
- The lawsuit, supported by Ballot PA Action, claims that independent voters are treated as second-class citizens, with 1.4 million affected.
- Testimony from a Carnegie Mellon University professor analyzed election data, showing independent voters have less influence compared to Democratic and Republican voters.
- The professor found that independent voters' influence is only equal in uncontested elections, where no real choice exists.
- An earlier petition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was denied, but the group remains confident in their legal argument.