I detest corporate welfare--20 year tax breaks on "economic redevelopment", etc.

Having the General Fund carry the political parties' water is of the same ilk.  Primary election expenses should be borne by the parties' campaign coffers.  Period.

Primary election expenses should be borne by the parties' campaign coffers.  Period.

Doesn't that threaten equal access to voting booths?

On one level, if you forced the parties to pay for the election, wouldn't they divert resources to where the get the most bang for their vote? Why would the Dems open a polling place where there are few Democrats? Or Republicans in downtown Philadelphia or Pittsburgh

On another level, what about intra-party politics. The DNC backs Hillary Clinton. So wouldn't it make sense for the Dems to put a polling place on every street corner in urban areas (where Hillary voters are stronger) versus more rural areas where the demographics point to Bernie

To be fair to state law, voters have up until 30 days before an election to register to vote, or change party affiliation. In New York, you had to changes last fall. Would same day registration and party switching be better for democracy? Yes. But Pennsylvania, for being a closed primary state, (and with the exception of its horrible ballot access laws) is generally pretty good about making the polls accessible. Look no further to the overturning or Gov Corbett's corrupt Voter ID law. 

Just Fred wrote:

Lager brings up a good point I hadn't thought before concerning equal access to voting booths.  I think he is right.

Of all of the things the commonwealth spends money on, I think the running of fair and free elections is well worth the investment.

If you want to affect change in terms of state and local elections, the focus should be on making ballot access for independents and third parties (eliminate the disparity in petition signatures) more equitable and making voting easier through mail-in ballots and same day registration.
 

Also, good point by Tarnation ................. sounds like we need open primaries funded by the government.  Everybody has an opportunity to participate equally and we remove the wads of private and tribal cash that gets dumped into the system.