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.
Nov. 30, 2020JACK HANRAHAN / ERIE TIMES-NEWSPa. counties reported no major issues with Dominion voting machines, a target of Trump and his campaignby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PADonald Trump won 86% of the Pennsylvania counties that used Dominion devices, while state Republicans who are now echoing the president's distrust of the machines performed well in the 2020 election.
Nov. 27, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPresident Trump invited Pa. lawmakers to the White House. Then everyone went silent.by William Bender of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAPresident Donald Trump summoned state lawmakers to the White House to talk about the election, but those who went weren't talking about it later.
Nov. 25, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerTrump campaign takes its complaints over Pa. election before GOP lawmakers, after string of court lossesby Jeremy Roebuck and Sean Collins Walsh of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe president scuttled plans to attend the GOP-run state Senate meeting in person, but falsely claimed by phone the “election was rigged.”
Nov. 25, 2020Nate Smallwood / Tribune-ReviewLast-minute assignments, lack of training left Pittsburgh-area poll workers unprepared on Election Dayby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PASpotlight PA and Votebeat interviewed eight Allegheny County poll workers, who suggested the success seen on Nov. 3 was far from inevitable.
Nov. 24, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. declares Biden as winner of state’s 2020 presidential election, certifies resultsby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAOnly President-elect Joe Biden’s electors will go to Harrisburg on Dec. 14 to formally cast their support for the former vice president, who won Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes.
Nov. 20, 2020Robert Frank / For Spotlight PAPa. counties expect to sign off on election results by Monday despite Trump’s attempts to delay certificationby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAThe routine administrative step has taken on new importance as President Donald Trump and his campaign allies try to inject controversy into the process.
Nov. 18, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. GOP advances audit of 2020 election, says it’s not about fraudby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAA resolution tasks a bipartisan committee that holds subpoena power with compiling a report on issues and “inconsistencies,” and hiring a firm to audit the vote.
Nov. 17, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerSpanish speakers in Pa. faced confused poll workers, lack of interpreters on Election Dayby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAWhile the problems weren’t widespread, advocates say any instance of a Spanish speaker facing a barrier when it comes to voting is inexcusable and shouldn’t be happening in 2020.
Nov. 13, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAMeet Pennsylvania’s Electoral College voters: Everything they can — and can’t — doby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAElectors in Pennsylvania are traditionally party loyalists, although there's no rule preventing them from going rogue.
Nov. 12, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerTens of thousands of provisional ballots in Pa. still need to be processedby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAConfusion and anxiety over mail voting caused a wave of 94,000 provisional ballots — required when a voter's eligibility is in question — to be cast on Nov. 3, likely setting a new state record.
Nov. 10, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. GOP lawmakers to probe unverified fraud claims in election they largely wonby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAWhile Pennsylvania already conducts post-election audits, Republicans say they will launch hearings to investigate what took place on Nov. 3.
Nov. 6, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PABiden may win Pennsylvania, but Democrats fell in races across the state — and the infighting has begunby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAWhile political strategists and candidates were still assessing the damage, they offered a number of theories, from ticket-splitting to coronavirus backlash to Trump outperforming expectations.
Nov. 6, 2020Robert Frank / For Spotlight PAPa. judge says in-person votes cast to fix erroneous mail ballots can be countedby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Jeremy Roebuck and Maddie Hanna of The Philadelphia InquirerThe judge said these votes should be separated, though they can still be counted if found to be eligible during the standard provisional ballot review process.
Nov. 6, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesTop Pa. Republican casting doubt on vote while conceding he doesn’t have ‘any evidence of misdoing’by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAWhile the validity of some ballots is in dispute, they would probably not be enough to affect the outcome of the presidential race. Claims of fraud lack any credible evidence.
Nov. 6, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerUpwards of 100,000 provisional ballots in Pa. could further delay a winner being namedby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAProvisional ballots are cast when a voter’s eligibility is in question. And so far, 2020 looks like it might be a record year, owing mostly to the state’s expansion of no-excuse mail voting.
Nov. 5, 2020Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAReports that vote counters in Pa.'s Allegheny County are taking the day off are misleading. Here’s the truth.by Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAA mailing company sent the wrong ballots to 29,000 voters, causing much of the current delay.
Nov. 5, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PARepublicans poised to expand Pa. Senate control, keep House majorityby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAControl of the legislature is particularly important heading into 2021, when lawmakers will draw new congressional maps and potentially shape state politics for the next decade.
Nov. 4, 2020Robert Frank / For Spotlight PATrump, Republicans sharpen legal attacks on Pa. ballots as count continuesby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe challenges center on certain mail ballots, but even if they are invalidated, it’s unclear if they would be enough to tip the balance of the contested swing state.
