HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania voters who aren't registered as members of a political party would have the option of participating in primary elections under a measure advanced by the state Senate.

Senators voted 42 to 8 on Tuesday for a bill that would permit those unaffiliated voters to decide which major party primary they want to cast their ballot in.

Supporters say it's a way to give nearly 800,000 unaffiliated voters a say in picking candidates for the November election.

The number of unaffiliated voters in the state has risen 75 percent in eight years.

Pennsylvania's system of closed primaries dates back at least to 1937.

The Senate also voted 30-20 to end straight ticket voting that lets people cast all their votes for a single party.

The bills were sent to the House.

HARRISBURG — A proposal to allow local police to use radar to catch speeding motorists is on its way to the state House after nearly unanimous approval in the Senate.Senators voted 49 to 1 on Tuesday for a bill that local departments have long sought.Current Pennsylvania law lets only state police use radar, while local police must use other methods to figure out how fast people are driving.A similar measure passed the Senate during the last session but died in the House.If the proposal is enacted, local governments would have to post signs warning motorists that they are using radar.By Associated Press