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THE LIBERTY TRIBUNE

PA Supreme Court Shuts Down Lawfare Aimed At Election Law

Updated: 9/18/2025

Pennsylvaniaelection lawSupreme Courtclosed primariesMichael Smerconish

What it is

A group of activists in Pennsylvania recently attempted to challenge an 88-year-old election law by filing a petition with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, seeking to declare the state's closed primary system unconstitutional. This system, established in 1937, requires voters to be registered with a political party to participate in that party's primary elections.

Why it matters

  • This system, established in 1937, requires voters to be registered with a political party to participate in that party's primary elections
  • They argued that the closed primary system posed an immediate public concern, citing voters who opted not to register with a political party
  • Notably, they did not reference any law or government entity that prevented them from registering with a political party, which would allow them to participate in primaries like many other Pennsylvanians
  • Even if the petitioners had succeeded, their public voting records would still reveal their primary participation, contradicting their concerns about privacy
  • Three of the seven justices are up for re-election this year, which may have influenced their decision to avoid potentially controversial rulings that could alienate voters
  • They sought to eliminate the statutory definition of a qualified primary voter, effectively attempting to rewrite the law under the guise of legal argumentation

Key facts

  • This system, established in 1937, requires voters to be registered with a political party to participate in that party's primary elections

Timeline & recent coverage

  • See related posts on our site; this explainer updates when new reporting appears
  • For deeper background, explore the sources below

Primary sources

Further reading & references

  • (Additional background links will appear here as we cover this topic)

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