If you are not registered as either Democrat or Republican, you are not allowed to vote in the Primaries. Primary elections are designed to allow party members to select their candidate for the general election.

There are many states that hold “open primary” elections. It is claimed that allowing independent voters to participate in the nominating process will make them more likely to vote in the general election. The traditional closed primary has been viewed as an incentive for people to join the major parties.

Allowing Independents to vote could be seen as opening the “big tent”, viewed as a Republican strength since Reagan. On the other hand, it is easy to imagine how an open primary process could be used to disrupt an opposing candidate’s campaign early in the process. The devil is in the details of how an open primary process is implemented.

Recently Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R), said that “the extremes of the parties have taken over the primary process.” House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R) expressed support and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D) has signaled he would be open to the idea of open primary elections.

Philly.com has reported on both sides of the issue:

Let’s open primaries to all, and watch real change happen

Why open primary elections won’t solve Pa.’s polarization problem

So – what does West Conshohocken think of the idea?