April 26, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAYou’re invited! A guide and free reader Q&A on what you need to know before the May primary election.by Spotlight PA StaffOn Tuesday, May 4 at 5 p.m., join Spotlight PA Deputy Editor Sarah Anne Hughes and WHYY’s Politics Reporter Katie Meyer as they break down what you need to know before you vote.
April 20, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAKey GOP lawmaker eyes photo ID, signature matching as Pa. considers voting changesby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAElection officials were impressed by 10 state House oversight hearings, but it's still unclear if lawmakers will embrace their recommendations.
April 19, 2021TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerYour guide to Pa.’s 2021 primary ballot questionsby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAVoters will be asked to settle a contentious dispute between the Wolf administration and the GOP-controlled legislature about the governor's executive powers.
March 23, 2021Jessica GriffinBallot questions should be clear, but two written by the Wolf administration don’t pass the testby Sarah Anne HughesTwo proposals that will be before voters this May have drawn the ire of Republican leaders in the state House and Senate, who called language written by the Wolf administration "prejudicial."
March 10, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. audit confirms Biden got more votes than Trump, but can’t tell us much elseby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile the audit's results indicate a high degree of confidence in the outcome, they cannot answer some of the finer questions about how the election was run.
Feb. 24, 2021Robert Frank / For Spotlight PACounties will again be unable to process mail ballots early during Pa.’s primary electionby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile a municipal primary typically sees low turnout, election officials said they can’t predict how many voters will take advantage of the state’s no-excuse mail voting law.
Feb. 23, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerVoters may never again get to choose Pa.’s lieutenant governor candidatesby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAA proposed constitutional amendment would allow a gubernatorial candidate to choose their running mate after the spring primary, much like the presidential race.
Feb. 19, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa.’s new auditor general says his election was fair, but he won’t talk about the othersby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PABecause Timothy DeFoor may be asked to investigate the 2020 election, his office said he "must maintain his independence."
Feb. 4, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesWhat the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of votingby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PASecretary Kathy Boockvar’s resignation has emboldened her fiercest GOP critics, even though it was not related to her handling of the closely watched vote in a battleground state.
Feb. 3, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPa. enacted 140 laws last year. Only 27 of them addressed the coronavirus.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe nation’s largest full-time legislature — with some of the highest-paid lawmakers — emerged from 2020 having failed to address some of the public’s most pressing needs.
Jan. 21, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesTop Pa. election official calls for end to ‘lies’ as GOP launches 2020 hearingsby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAThe hearing was the first of 14 Republicans intend to hold on the administration of an election they largely won. Democrats launched a counter-offensive, “Defending Democracy,” to “address the lies.”
Jan. 14, 2021Mark Pynes / PennLiveLaw enforcement in Pa. preparing for possible unrest despite ‘no specific threats’ to the Capitolby Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PACapitol Police have increased security at the complex in Harrisburg and erected barriers near the main building.
Jan. 12, 2021James Robinson / Pennsylvania Senate Democratic CaucusFederal judge rules in favor of Democratic Pa. Senate candidate GOP refused to seatby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PARepublican Nicole Ziccarelli filed the suit seeking to throw out 2,349 mail ballots that Allegheny County election officials counted even though they did not have a handwritten date on the outer envel
Jan. 8, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAA Pa. Republican lawmaker who marched to the Capitol before the mob attack is facing calls to resignby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAState Sen. Doug Mastriano was seen in social media photos outside the Capitol before insurrectionists attacked the building.
Jan. 6, 2021HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerTop Pa. lawmakers who rejected election results denounce U.S. Capitol mobby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PARepublican leaders who have called into question the integrity of the election said objections should be handled peacefully and denounced violence at the U.S. Capitol.
Jan. 6, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerRepublican leaders in Pa. Senate ask Congress to delay Electoral College countby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAPresident Pro Tempore Jake Corman and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward said certain “inconsistencies” with how the election was run in Pennsylvania still need to be investigated.
Jan. 5, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAElection officials want a say in Pa.’s voting reforms, but politics may get in the wayby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAAs two GOP lawmakers push to abolish mail voting, county election officials say the state should keep and improve the new system.
Jan. 4, 2021James Robinson / Pennsylvania Senate Democratic CaucusGOP leaders in Pa. Senate will refuse to seat Democrat certified by state as winnerby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe top Republican in the Senate said a decision in a legal challenge brought by Brewster’s GOP challenger is necessary before the chamber can swear in a winner.
Dec. 29, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerSatellite offices gave Pa. voters more options to cast early ballots in person. Were they worth it?by Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAOf the state’s 67 counties, six of the most highly populated decided to open auxiliary offices. Just one has firm plans to continue using them in the future.
Dec. 23, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerAs he seeks to overturn Pa.’s election, Trump invites GOP senators to White House lunchby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe invitation from the White House for Wednesday’s luncheon was sent to every Republican in the GOP-controlled chamber.
Dec. 23, 2020Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAThousands of ballots will be audited as part of Pa.’s post-election reviewby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAThe review, which will be completed by Jan. 22, provides a statistical assurance that there were no errors in the state's declaration of Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election.
Dec. 21, 2020KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY / Sun-GazettePa. election officials are burnt out and leaving their jobs after 2020 ‘nightmare’by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PASince the passage of the 2019 law that made sweeping changes to voting in Pennsylvania, at least 21 election officials have left or will soon leave their posts.
Dec. 15, 2020Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAMailed ballots, tight deadlines caused a crunch for Pa. elections officials. Now, comes the reckoning.by Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAVoters could request a mail ballot just seven days before the Nov. 3 election, making it difficult for county offices to send them out and receive them back by the deadline.
Dec. 14, 2020JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerWith unusual attention, Pa. presidential electors officially cast votes for Joe Bidenby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PANormally a formality in the lead-up to Inauguration Day, the meeting has received far greater attention than usual as President Donald Trump continues to deny the results of November’s election.
Dec. 10, 2020Robert Frank / For Spotlight PAThe 2020 election cost Pa. counties millions in OT, was most expensive ever, officials sayby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAThe pandemic and a new vote-by-mail system overwhelmed already overworked election offices, but some tapped federal pandemic stimulus money to help cover costs.
Dec. 8, 2020Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAFirm ran Pa. senator’s campaign and worked with super PAC to attack opponent, but denies coordinationby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The CaucusCoordination between independent expenditure groups and political campaigns is forbidden. But weak state and federal campaign finance rules and meager oversight create gray areas and loopholes.
Dec. 4, 2020Dan Gleiter / The Patriot-NewsGOP leaders ask Congress to reject Pa.’s electors for Joe Bidenby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe effort is another attempt by Republican lawmakers to undermine the outcome of November’s election.
Dec. 3, 2020Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPandemic, partisan attacks exposed gaps in Pa.’s new mail-in voting lawby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAWhile many lawmakers agree changes are needed, finding common ground in the current hyper-partisan climate might be difficult — if not impossible.
Dec. 2, 2020JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer‘Mistakes were made’ at maskless election hearing held by COVID-positive lawmaker, Pa. Senate leader saysby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PABreaking his silence, top GOP Sen. Jake Corman said his office is reviewing how the hearing was organized and executed.
Dec. 1, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAGOP leadership silent after Pa. senator tests positive for COVID-19 following maskless election eventby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PACoronavirus cases and hospitalizations are surging, making mitigation efforts like wearing masks and not gathering in small spaces more important than ever.
