Regarding Tim Kaczmarek’s letter “Transition to independence” (Oct. 9, TribLIVE): He and many others who are registered independents clamor about not being able to vote in primary elections.

The purpose of a primary election is for our two major political parties to choose their candidates for the fall general election. You elected to not join either party, so you have no right to help them choose their candidates. This is a simple and logical explanation.

Minor political parties like the Libertarians may be on a primary ballot, but, most of the time, because they are so small, they hold a convention (say, Kansas City for national elections or their state capitals for statewide elections) to choose their candidates for office int he fall general election.

Just as you do not have the right to vote for the officers of the Sierra Club or the local VFW, Sons of Italy, American Legion, Polish Club, etc., because you didn’t want to join them, you don’t have the right to choose the candidates of political parties you didn’t want to join.

Tom Tarosky

West Leechburg

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)