June 17, 2025Courtesy of Keep Our RepublicCounty election officials for Pa. talk 2024 lessons, share reform wish listsby Carter Walker for VotebeatAt a Q&A with Votebeat, officials said they need more time for pre-canvassing and an earlier deadline for mail ballot applications, plus have concerns about drop boxes, voter ID.
June 13, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesGOP looking for strong candidate to challenge Josh Shapiro as party seeks to keep control of U.S. Houseby Associated PressThe GOP faces long odds against beating Josh Shapiro, but finding a strong candidate is also important for the U.S. House majority.
June 13, 2025Carter Walker / VotebeatHow would ordinary voters resolve Pennsylvania’s big election policy debates?by Carter Walker of VotebeatAs part of a civics project, a group of citizens gathered to discuss pre-canvassing, early voting, and voter ID. Their deliberations could shape pending legislation.
May 27, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. is the last state to elect poll workers. Local officials say they're short 1000s of candidates.by Carter Walker of VotebeatIn Allegheny County alone, 3,500 of the roughly 4,000 elected poll worker positions on the November ballot will lack a candidate.
May 21, 2025Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: The State College school board candidates advancing to Novemberby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeState College voters will choose from six school board candidates in the fall — four registered Democrats and two registered Republicans.
May 21, 2025Kriston Jae Bethel / For VotebeatA failed plot to steal a local Pa. election shows how hard it is to pull off fraudby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe case serves as a reality check amid a raging national debate over election security and the threat of voter fraud, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania.
May 20, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: The Commonwealth and Superior Court candidates advancing to Novemberby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAVoters this fall will also consider whether to give five appellate judges, including those on state Supreme Court, additional 10-year terms.
May 20, 2025Gene J. Puskar / APPittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey loses Democratic primary to challenger Corey O’Connorby Associated PressBecause of Democrats’ voter advantage in Pittsburgh, the winner of the primary election will likely triumph in November.
May 20, 2025APPhiladelphia DA Larry Krasner prevails over Democratic challenger Pat Dugan in primary electionby Associated PressKrasner’s victory all but guarantees him a third term in office as the city’s top prosecutor, with no Republicans filing to run in November’s general election.
May 20, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAWhat time do polls open and close Tuesday in Pa.? All the information you need for primary Election Day 2025.by Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAPennsylvanians will head to the polls today to vote in judicial and municipal races. Here’s everything you need to know.
May 20, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhat you need to know about your Election Day voting rights in Pennsylvaniaby Elizabeth Estrada and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAVoting in Pennsylvania? Here’s everything you need to know about your rights.
May 19, 2025APPennsylvania cities gear up for crucial municipal primary electionsby Associated PressPhiladelphia DA Larry Krasner and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, both incumbents, are facing challengers.
May 15, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PALatest results from the 2025 Pennsylvania primary electionby Spotlight PA StaffGet real-time results on races for Pittsburgh mayor, Philadelphia district attorney, and more in the 2025 Pennsylvania primary election.
May 15, 2025Dan Nott / For Spotlight PARare birth of a new city in Pennsylvania inches closer as voters pick a whole new councilby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA new City of DuBois will come into existence next January resulting from a consolidation. Voters get to pick a whole new city council ahead of its creation.
May 14, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: How to vote, where to vote, and everything you need to know for May 20by Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAOn May 20, Pennsylvanians will cast their votes in municipal races, and for judges on Commonwealth and Superior Courts.
May 13, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAEarly voting in, voter ID out as Democrats advance sweeping election billby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatThe measure includes in-person early voting and procedural mail ballot updates election officials have wanted for years. It has an uncertain future.
May 5, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PABadly needed updates to Pa.'s election law unlikely despite new consensus on voter IDby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatConflicting partisan priorities and disagreements over voter ID specifics continue to make election deals tricky.
May 2, 2025Lauren Victoria Burke / AP15 years after Citizens United, big money dominates politics in Pa. and beyondby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAExperts say the U.S. Supreme Court ruling ushered in an era of unprecedented spending on elections by ultra-wealthy special interests.
May 1, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: A complete guide to who is on the primary ballot, when to vote, how to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots and moreby Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAOn May 20, Pennsylvanians will vote for primary candidates to fill a vacancy each on the Commonwealth and Superior Courts, as well as municipal races that will vary by county.
April 29, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: How to serve as a poll worker on May 20by Kate Huangpu and Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAPennsylvania poll workers help to make voting run smoothly on Election Day. Here’s how you can serve as one.
April 28, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: Everything college students need to know about votingby Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAWhen it comes to voting, college students in Pennsylvania have multiple options. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the May 20 primary election.
April 24, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAPa.’s independent voters are growing in number. Here’s why they still can’t vote in primaries.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania is one of 10 states with closed primaries that exclude independents. Every session, lawmakers and advocates push for change, but leaders haven’t committed.
April 23, 2025Jae C. Hong / APTrump administration drops lawsuit accusing PA city of robbing Hispanic voters of powerby Associated PressThe U.S. Justice Department’s initial lawsuit said the “at-large” system of electing city council members prevented Hispanic residents from getting elected.
April 23, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: A complete guide to Reading City Council president candidatesby Lisa Scheid of Spotlight PAThe crucial position is selected by voters to keep order and set an agenda for the legislative body of this city of more than 90,000.
April 21, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow Spotlight PA will cover Pennsylvania’s 2025 primary electionby Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAIn 2025, Pennsylvanians will elect local officials and judges. Learn more about how Spotlight PA will cover these races.
April 21, 2025Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: A complete guide to the candidates for State College school boardby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeDemocrats and Republicans will see the same seven candidates for State College school board on their primary ballots.
April 18, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: A guide to vetting local and judicial candidatesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PALocal lawmakers like mayors and judicial candidates such as those for Common Pleas court will be on the ballot in 2025. Learn more about how to research the candidates.
April 17, 2025Courtesy of campaignsPa. primary election 2025: A complete guide to candidates for Commonwealth and Superior Courtsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PADemocrats and Republicans will appear on the May 20 primary ballot as they vie for seats on Commonwealth and Superior Courts.
April 11, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PALast-resort ballots are increasingly being rejected for technical errors in Pennsylvania. Why?by Carter Walker of VotebeatBetween 2016 and 2024, the percentage of provisional ballots rejected due to technical errors increased from .95% to 4.92%.
April 10, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: Everything you need to know about requesting, filling out, and returning your mail ballotby Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAPennsylvania has universal no-excuse mail voting. Here’s everything you need to know about the process ahead of the May 20 primary election.
Booklight PA: Read ‘The School for Good Mothers’ and discuss it with author Jessamine ChanAttendSep 25