Letter to the Editor: Plight of the Independent Voter

Matt Schlueb, a parent and voter in the North Allegheny School District, submitted the following letter to the editor:

This morning after dropping our kids off at school, I went to vote before heading to work. Our kids attend a North Allegheny elementary school and the district is currently in the midst of a passionate debate between a school board considering closing an elementary school in efforts to balance their budget and parents of the elementary schools on the chopping block trying to keep their school open.

Our children attend one of those schools; needless to say, I have an interest in the seven candidates running for the school board on the Primary ballot today. 

Entering our voting place (a church in our community, which begs the question What ever happened to the separation of church and state? – but, that is a letter for another day), I ask one of the official monitors what is the purpose of the Primary elections? 

“The Primary election is for the Parties (Democrat, Republican, etc.) to select their candidate for the General election in the Fall."

That is understandable, so I ask why then are the school board candidates listed on both the Democratic and Republican Primary ballots? 

“Because they cross‐registered, which is their answer to our Primary system that does not account for non‐partisan elected positions, like judges or school board members.” 

Since I consider myself an independent voter and not registered with either the Democratic or Republican parties, how would I exercise my voting right to select my choice for the four school board members of the seven, to run in the General election? It seems to me, since my kids attend one of the schools under consideration of being closed and I am a tax paying citizen of the community, I should have the right to participate in the selection of the candidates running for the General election. 

“Unfortunately, in our Primary system you don’t. You would have to ask your State Legislator to petition a bill, to make our state an ‘open’ Primary election (like some other states do), so voters that do not have Party affiliations can still vote on non‐partisan offices.” 

Good luck with that. What incentive does my partisan legislators have to propose a bill to encourage independent minded voters without an allegiance to their Party? 

What ever happened to the independent spirit we fought and died for in the Revolutionary War? 

I thought back in March of 2004, Governor Rendell announced Pennsylvania’s new slogan as The State of Independence, from over twenty thousand public submissions. And, wasn’t the Liberty Bell that resides in Pennsylvania, rung to mark the reading in Philadelphia of the Declaration of Independence? 

What has become of our democracy? 

And, what will become of my childrens’ elementary school? 

I guess their fate is in the hands of my Democratic and Republican neighbors. 

I hope they vote with an independent mind and with the future of our children at heart.

What do you think? Should the system to be change to allow indpendents to vote in the primary? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.