Legislation that could boost voter turnout in primary elections in Pennsylvania is expected to receive consideration this fall in the state Senate.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, has introduced a bill that would open up primaries to all unaffiliated voters. This would put Pennsylvania in the company of nine other states that allow unaffiliated voters to participate in the party primary of their choice, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"This bill is a bi-partisan piece of legislation introduced with the goal of giving over 740,000 registered unaffiliated Pennsylvania voters the right to participate in the primary election process," Scarnati said.

"Specifically, on the day of the primary election, it will allow these voters to choose to cast their vote on either the Republican or Democrat ballot. Voters who are registered with either the Republican or Democratic Party will continue to be required to vote on their respective ballots," he said.

Scarnati noted that a mere 18 percent of registered voters participated in this year's gubernatorial primary, which he attributed in part to "voters feeling disenfranchised by both major parties, who have taken control of our primary process."

He added, "Allowing more people the opportunity to have a voice in their representation is an important step toward ensuring democracy."

Micah Sims, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, couldn't agree more. His organization, which has been lobbying for this change for years, has been working with another powerful lawmaker, House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana County, on an open primary bill since Reed mentioned his interest in this government reform last spring.

"It's good for democracy. It's great for turnout," Sims said. "Right now, taxpayer dollars are paying for primaries so why aren't all taxpayers allowed to participate in primaries?"

Sims was unaware of Scarnati's bill and planned to review it to see how it might compare to the one his group has been crafting with Reed.

"We are only for the version that addresses the non-affiliated, independent, or third-party voters to choose from Democratic selections or Republican selections in the primary," Sims said.

Scarnati's bill has been sent to the Senate State Government Committee for consideration and he indicated a hope it would be worked on this fall.

Sims hopes that this proposed change in state law not only gets worked on but gets to the governor's desk for enactment in time to be in place for next spring's primary on May 21.