ChesterCountyMedicineSpring2020 - 14

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Democracy
BY LARRY L. LIGHT

P

residential election years mean we often find ourselves
focusing on how our democracy works. Before we realize
it a wide range of issues find their way onto our radar as we
adapt to 24 hour news cycles highlighting campaigns, elections,
candidates and voting.
As recognized community leaders, physicians are often
expected to pay close attention to political issues that are
widespread in their community. Admittedly, many of those issues
do not directly affect the continued delivery of quality health care,
but they are often important to patients who are proud citizen
voters.
As a state not particularly known for progressive election
reform measures, there was some satisfaction attached to the 2019
Voting Reform Act that will loosen absentee ballot restrictions,
allow early voting by mail and ban straight party voting in general
elections. The lengthened time lines for absentee voters and the
online capability to request a ballot for voting by mail should be
particularly useful for physicians and other health care providers
whose complex work schedules can make voting difficult.
While the new law was indeed groundbreaking, many
voting rights activists and reformers were unsatisfied that it
didn't go farther. They assert that Pennsylvania has a wish list
of election reforms which are needed for modernization of the
Commonwealth's election laws and to "strengthen democracy."
The actual date of the PA primary election in Presidential
election years is at the center of any election reform discussion.
By law the PA primary election is held on the 3rd Tuesday of
May. But every four years the state's primary moves to the 4th

14 CHESTER COUNT Y Medicine | SPRING 2020

Tuesday in April. The ensuing discussion is about making PA
more relevant in the presidential primary process and even
driving increased revenue to state media outlets by holding the
primary earlier. The principal counter argument seems to be that
candidates would be gathering signatures on their petitions in the
coldest weather. Political analysts observe that the later date may
suppress voter turnout and provide an advantage to incumbents.
There was no change for 2020 so the discussion will continue.
The recent reform law is designed to facilitate voter registration
by changing the last day to register to 15 days before a primary or
general election. The road not taken in the reform package was to
allow registration on election day at the polls. Advocates argue
that voter turnout would increase in far greater proportion to the
potential for fraud. Under the old law, registration closed 30 days
before a primary and general election. As before, voter registration
re-opens the day after the election.
A closely aligned proposal would allow open primaries,
dropping the requirement that voters register as members of a
specific political party to be eligible for primary voting. A voter
registered in one party, or registered as an independent, would be
allowed to cross party lines in the primary and have an impact in a
hotly contested race in the other party.
The proposal to randomize the list of candidates on the
ballot appeals to many who are anxious for reform. While the
current practice of drawing ballot position by lots would not
change, this reform would be to rotate the ballot position assigned
to each candidate on each ballot. In larger metropolitan and
suburban areas there can be long lists of candidates, particularly
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