May 17, 2021
Contact: Pat Christmas
Policy Director, Committee of Seventy
pchristmas@seventy.org; 919-423-7281
ERIE – Tomorrow on Election Day, May 18, Senator Dan Laughlin will introduce legislation to allow independent voters unaffiliated with any political party to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary. The number of such independent voters is now nearly 900,000 and continues to grow steadily across Pennsylvania.
Sen. Laughlin will be joined at a press conference at 10:30 am at the Artlore Studio in Erie by Lori Morse-Dolan of the League of Women Voters of Erie County and Isabella Andrezeski, a newly registered independent voter, to talk about the importance of this issue and why independent voters should no longer be barred from voting on candidates in taxpayer-funded primary elections.
Artlore Studio is also currently displaying a suffrage centennial project, “Every Woman,” that was initially funded with a state grant. “Every Woman” is mannequin design project by a diverse group of female artists using the American suffrage colors to reflect on the vote, the changing culture of women, and issues still impacting women today. Ms. Andrezeski is one of the artists who contributed to the project.
WHO: Senator Dan Laughlin, Lori Morse-Dolan of the League of Women Voters of Erie County, and Isabella Andrezeski, independent voter and “Every Woman” contributing artist
WHAT: Press conference to announce open primaries legislation that would allow 900,000 independent voters unaffiliated with any political party to vote on candidates in primary elections.
WHERE: Artlore Studio (3406 W Lake Road, Erie) and livestreamed on Open Primaries PA Facebook page
WHEN: Tuesday, May 18, at 10:30 am
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Open Primaries PA is a growing coalition of civic, community and business organizations committed to open and free elections in Pennsylvania that lead to responsive and accountable government.