May 15, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAHere’s what is happening in Pennsylvania ahead of next week’s electionby Carter Walker of VotebeatMail ballot mixups and testing new election processes have led the headlines as Pa. counties prepare for the 2026 primary election.
May 15, 2026Jeff Chiu / APSkill games, sports betting interests are spending millions competing over 3 GOP state Senate primariesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe primaries feature three prominent incumbents who are central in ongoing talks about how to regulate skill games and find state revenue.
May 14, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PADemocratic primaries in the Lehigh Valley test progressive versus party powerby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PATwo outsiders argue Pennsylvania Democrats want radical change on wages, housing, and taxes. Their party-backed opponents prefer incremental progress.
May 14, 2026Matt Rourke / APPennsylvania’s crucial swing voters say Congress is failing themby Avani Kalra of NOTUSVoters across the Lehigh Valley found wide dissatisfaction with both parties for failing to address economic issues and little hope they would take action.
May 13, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: How to spot and report voter intimidation in Pennsylvaniaby Elizabeth Estada of Spotlight PAVoter intimidation is illegal under federal and Pa. law. Here’s how to spot it and report it.
May 12, 2026Courtesy of the Philadelphia City CommissionersPennsylvania won’t test internet-connected e-pollbooks in 2026 primaryby Carter Walker of VotebeatSome county election officials were excited for the new capabilities, but now they won’t get them until at least 2027.
May 11, 2026Carolyn Kaster / APPennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on cast vote records creates uncertainty for countiesby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe court ordered counties to release granular data on individual ballots, but some are unsure if they can comply and still keep voters’ choices secret.
May 8, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesCongressional Dem campaign’s endorsements in Pa., other races give unselected candidates ammoby Christa Dutton of NOTUSThe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee weighed in on four primary contests this week, including in Pennsylvania, where it endorsed Bob Brooks.
May 8, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s mail ballot dating rules have been in flux for years. Here's what you need to know.by Carter Walker of VotebeatElection officials still recommend dating the envelope, even though counties aren’t currently rejecting ballots with improper dates.
May 7, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: How to vote, where to vote, and everything you need to know for May 19by Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAOn May 19, Pennsylvanians will cast their votes in primary races, including governor, state House and Senate, and more.
May 5, 2026Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAMore Pa. voters are registering as independents, but barriers stop lawmakers from followingby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAElected officials say closed primaries, signature requirements, and money demands all make it hard to run as an independent.
May 4, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: What you need to know about your Election Day voting rightsby Elizabeth Estrada and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAVoting in Pennsylvania? Here’s everything you need to know about your rights.
April 30, 2026Mariam Zuhaib / APU.S. Supreme Court restricts Voting Right Act, but effect on Pennsylvania likely limitedby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe decision will make some Voting Rights Act challenges to election maps harder to win, but those cases have historically been rare in Pennsylvania.
April 30, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesWhere Garrity and Shapiro stand on broadband, federal cuts, and other key rural issuesby Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College and Jaxon White of Spotlight PAFrom broadband delays to strained health services, Pennsylvania’s governor’s race could shape the future of communities facing population loss.
April 29, 2026Carolyn Kaster / APPennsylvania court grants public access to voting data in dispute from 2020 election's aftermathby Associated PressThe Democratic-majority court's decision provides access to "cast vote records." Justices say their decision still keeps individual votes secret.
April 28, 2026Matt Rourke / APLatino leaders surge into local office as Trump-era attacks fuel new urgencyby Associated PressLancaster, Pennsylvania, with a roughly 40% Hispanic population, recently elected Jaime Arroyo their first Latino mayor.
April 28, 2026Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: 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 19, Pennsylvanians will vote for primary candidates in races for governor, state House and Senate, and more.
April 28, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania has spent $1.4 million updating its voter registration system — but won’t provide progress reportsby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe state embarked on a project to update the antiquated SURE system last year. Officials hope to have the new version ready by 2027.
April 27, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAOrganizer pleads guilty in Pennsylvania voter registration fraud caseby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe suspicious registration applications were discovered just before the 2024 election and fueled fraud accusations, but prosecutors determined the motive was not political.
April 27, 2026Matt Slocum / APMeet 2 of the 1 million independent Pa. voters shut out of next month’s primaryby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAIn many Pa. districts, the primary is the race that really determines who will win a seat.
April 23, 2026Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPennsylvania Supreme Court to decide whether state should reject voter applications with mismatched databy Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Department of State says counties must accept applications even when voters’ ID or Social Security numbers don’t match government records.
April 23, 2026Courtesy of candidates' Facebook pages, Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. primary election 2026: Your complete guide to the candidates for lieutenant governorby Jaxon White of Spotlight PAIncumbent Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is the only Democratic candidate. Jason Richey and John Ventre are competing for the GOP nod.
April 20, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: 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 19 election.
April 17, 2026Carter Walker / VotebeatPennsylvania auditor general says Motor Voter system works, but improvements neededby Carter Walker of VotebeatOne noncitizen was allowed to apply to vote, but the mistake was due to human error.
April 15, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania county bans poll workers from using election prediction marketsby Carter Walker of VotebeatState law already prohibits poll workers from betting on elections, but prediction markets argue they are not betting operations.
April 15, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: How to serve as a poll worker on May 19by 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 14, 2026Mark Schiefelbein / APCongress’ ultrarich think they can sell an affordability agendaby Emily Kennard of NOTUSMembers tasked with translating broad economic promises about affordability into law, while defending the results back home, are often many tax brackets removed from their constituents.
April 13, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesGarrity hits Mar-a-Lago as she struggles to compete with Shapiro on fundraisingby Stephen Caruso and Jaxon White of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial candidate was outraised 10-to-1 by the incumbent.
April 13, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2026: 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 19 primary election.
April 10, 2026Marc Levy / APVulnerable midterm Republicans focus on tax cuts as opponents spotlight rising gas pricesby Avani Kalra of NOTUSOne of Republican Rep. Scott Perry’s Democratic opponents highlighted his support for Trump and the Iran war.
Spotlight PA Event: The past, present, and future of Pennsylvania’s mental health care systemsAttendJul 30