Democracy Dies in Digital Silos:
Clickbait, Confirmation Bias, and Mis/Disinformation
Sponsored by
Pi Sigma Alpha,
National Political Science Honor Society,
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Chapter
and the
League of Women Voters
of Westmoreland County
What does the PA Closed Primary mean for PA voters? Only voters registered in PA as a member of one of the TWO MAJOR political parties--REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC--can vote in the PRIMARY for CANDIDATES for the GENERAL ELECTION.
Over 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are registered independents/ third parties and as unaffiliated voters they excluded from exercising their right to vote in PA primary elections. "With greater participation, government will have more positive input." Jack Wagner
Military veterans are the highest demographic of voters registered as independents. Over 40% of military veterans are registered as independent in PA and are denied the right to vote in primary elections.
PA is one of only nine states that have closed primaries. There are many variations of open primaries. The most recent PA Senate Bill 400 would allow registered voters who selected "no affiliation", "none", or "independent" on their PA voter registration application to choose to vote as a REPUBLICAN or DEMOCRATIC for that specific primary election. PA Senate Bill 400 would not allow Republicans or Democrats to vote in the other party's primary election.
Ballot PA is a project of the Committee of Seventy and is a growing coalition of civic, community and business organizations committed to ensuring independents in Pennsylvania have the right to vote in primary elections. Visit BallotPA for more information.