Ballot PA Action is a campaign seeking to repeal closed primaries in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is one of nine remaining states across the country with closed primaries. Closed primaries require voters to choose a party in order to participate in that party’s primary election. The eight other states include Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
Why Repeal Closed Primaries?
Fairness: Pennsylvania’s Constitution says that elections must be “free and equal.” Yet, more than 1.4 million registered voters who are not affiliated with a political party cannot participate in primaries—even though these elections often decide the outcome in most districts. This is a form of “taxation without representation,” since all Pennsylvanians fund elections through their taxes. If primaries are considered private party functions, they should not be run by the state’s Department of State.
Increasing Voter Turnout: Research supports the idea that more open primaries boost participation. A 2024 Bipartisan Policy Center report found that states allowing unaffiliated voters in primaries see voter turnout increase by about five percentage points.
Reducing Party Control: Closed primaries give political parties a tight grip on who gets nominated. Moving to a semi-open or semi-closed system—where voters can choose which party ballot to vote on—would expand influence to a broader electorate. This measure would make candidates more accountable to everyday voters and less beholden to the parties.
Strengthening Parties Long-Term: At the same time, some party insiders also believe that opening primaries could benefit the parties. Allowing independents to vote may draw new supporters into the fold. Once voters get a say in primary elections, they may be more likely to formally join a party later.
Political Moderation: Some studies suggest that open primaries can reduce polarization by encouraging candidates to appeal to a wider audience.
Meet David Thornburgh, Chair of Ballot PA Action
David Thornburgh serves as the Chair of Ballot PA Action. David is a nationally recognized civic entrepreneur who, as CEO of five different civic organizations in his career, has spearheaded efforts to grow the economy and deliver better government in Pennsylvania and around the country. Most recently, from 2014 to 2020 he served as the President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, the venerable Philadelphia-based good government group. He holds a B.A. in political science from Haverford College, a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and an honorary Doctor of Public Policy degree from Dickinson College. He is the second son of former Republican Pennsylvania Governor and US Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, and Ginny Judson Thornburgh, a lifetime advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
