Guest Commentary: Instead of Closed Primaries, No Primaries

Imagine an organization with members across the state that chooses its leadership by election. Maybe a union, a trade group, a fraternal organization — whatever. Now, imagine that the state government, which already has the equipment and expertise to run elections, offers to do it for them. The group might look favorably on that. It might save them some money and effort.

But now imagine that the state says, And by the way, non-union people get to vote in your union elections. Or, Non-members get to vote in your club elections. What organization members in their right mind would accept that?

But that is exactly the case being made for open primaries around the country and, lately, here in Pennsylvania. The political parties are private organizations dedicated to electing people who