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Al Schmidt: “Only Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates…”

Featuring: Al Schmidt, Republican | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election

Published May 18, 2026 | Video Starts at 08:28

We're in litigation on that issue and I can't really speak to it. I know what the law is. And the law is that right now Only Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates running in a primary for the Democratic or Republican nomination. and that anyone else registered, non party, unaffiliated or whatever else independent can only vote again on ballot questions or special elections when they infrequently occur. Yes. (08:28–08:49)

CLAIM

Asserts that primary voting in Pennsylvania is restricted to registered Democrats and Republicans.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Al Schmidt

“The polls are open in Pennsylvania from 7am to 8pm and if you're in line by 8pm you were still able to cast your vote.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 00:27-00:37
“Completed mail ballots must be returned to your county or to a county drop box if they have them. County Board of elections office by 8pm…”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 00:37-00:50
“8pm on election day is deadline for [mail ballots] to be returned.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 00:49-00:54
“If you requested a mail ballot but decide to vote in person, you have a couple options.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 01:14-01:20
“Voters have rights protected by federal and state laws and voter intimidation and coercion are illegal.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 02:12-02:20
“Pennsylvania election laws...did not allow counties to begin pre processing mail ballots before 11am or 7am on election morning.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 03:12-03:26
“County election officials need time to accurately count every ballot.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 03:41-03:46
“In the primary, only Democrats, registered Democrats and registered Republicans can vote for candidates who are running in their primaries.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 05:08-05:19
“Anyone else registered, non-party, unaffiliated or whatever else independent can only vote on ballot questions or special elections.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 05:19-05:43
“If you are registered independent, if you're not affiliated, if you're Libertarian or green or whatever else, you do have the ability to…”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 05:19-05:34
“In Pennsylvania, you can only return your own ballot. You can't return someone else's ballot.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 07:20-07:30
“Counties in every election, for every vote, whether a race is close or not close, count every eligible vote that's cast.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 10:35-10:46
“When people vote by provisional ballots, those are only counted if races are close. That is not true at all.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 10:58-11:08
“In my experience, when you have competitive races, you have higher turnout.”
Pa. Secretary reminds voters to prepare for Tuesday's primary election | Uploaded May 18, 2026 | 12:19-12:31