Pennsylvania should act quickly to make primary changes

Talk of changes to political primary elections is getting a lot of attention in Harrisburg these days — on more than one front.

The most pressing issue has to do with whether or not to move up the date for the 2024 primary, now scheduled for April 23. That date conflicts with Passover, an occasion when observant Jews refrain from work, driving and other activities.

But Passover is only part of the reason why the date change is being contemplated. Pennsylvania leaders long have debated the idea of scheduling the state’s primary earlier in the season so voters here have a better opportunity to weigh in on presidential nominations.

Usually the major party races are all but decided by the time late April rolls around. And with more states pushing their own primaries earlier to expand their influence, the problem for Pennsylvania is only likely to get worse. Considering that Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that typically decide presidential races in November, we should be more involved in selecting the nominees.

If a change is going to be made, now is the time. The spring of 2024 is just months away, and changing the schedule has significant logistical implications for county election boards and campaigns alike.

But things rarely move quickly in Harrisburg. A bill favored by the Senate calls for a March 19 primary. The House passed a bill changing the date to April 2. They still need to work out their differences.

We favor the earlier 2024 date in the interest of getting Pennsylvania close to the thick of the primary race, followed by an effort to change the primary date permanently to improve our voters’ influence in the long run. Even though at this moment it doesn’t look like either major party’s primary will be very competitive next year, plenty can change in the coming months. It’s best to give voters a chance to weigh in.

But whatever date is chosen for the primary, it needs to be decided soon. There’s no reason for an ongoing squabble on this matter. Majorities in both houses favor changing the date. Lawmakers just need to work out the details.

The other issue relates to allowing independent voters to take part in primary elections. The idea has been floating around for decades without success, but recently a bipartisan group of political heavyweights gave the proposal new momentum.

Pennsylvania’s five most recent former governors collectively announced their support for open primaries. Govs. Tom Corbett, Ed Rendell, Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, and Tom Wolf wrote in a letter that they “pledged to govern on behalf of all Pennsylvanians” and argued that primary elections are now decided by fewer, more extreme voters. They contend that opening primaries would help tamp down extremism and polarization.

This legislative session, there are measures in both the state House and Senate that would open the primary system.

Pennsylvania is one of nine states with a closed primary system. Voters in the state can cast primary election ballots only for the party to which they are registered, which leaves more than 1 million independent, unaffiliated and third-party voters unable to participate at all, with the exception ballot initiatives and special elections that coincide with partisan primary elections.

Few people typically turn out for primary elections, yet their decisions determine what choices a much larger group of voters will have in November.

Many voters are frustrated with both parties and choosing to affiliate with neither. They are denied the chance to have a voice in selecting candidates who might reduce our political polarization.

The current system entrenches hard-line Republican and Democrat candidates without challenge or engagement by all citizens. That’s dangerous for democracy and just plain wrong. And in local races that allow cross-filing, primary elections can all but decide the races before the entire electorate has a say.

We urge lawmakers to act quickly on these issues and eliminate any uncertainty about the 2024 primary.