March 28, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesRecount petitions could impede Pa.’s efforts to certify 2024 election by new federal deadlineby Carter Walker of VotebeatAfter the 2022 election, more than 100 recount petitions were filed around Pennsylvania, delaying certification. Could that happen again in 2024?
March 26, 2024Courtesy candidate Facebook pagesPa. election 2024: Your guide to the primary candidates for treasurerby Jannelle Andes, Genevieve Hartnett, Alaysia Lane, Bill Meincke, and DJ Waller for Spotlight PATreasurer Stacy Garrity is the only Republican who will appear on the April 23 primary ballot, while Democrats will decide between state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro and Erin McClelland.
March 20, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. election 2024: How much the Democratic and Republican attorney general candidates have raisedby Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe Republican attorney general candidate who received his party’s nod has a small fundraising advantage over his opponent, while Democratic donors have yet to coalesce around one of the candidates.
March 19, 2024KENT M. WILHELM / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2024: A complete guide to the primary candidates for attorney generalby Félicie Jungels, Maya Mehrara, and Sophia Takla for Spotlight PAFive Democrats and two Republicans are running for their party’s nomination and will appear on the April 23 primary ballot.
March 13, 2024Screenshot via City Commissioners YouTube channelPhiladelphia voting commission shakeup creates bad optics during big election yearby Carter Walker of VotebeatAfter a change in leadership and staff duties, the Philadelphia Board of City Commissioners’ meetings have been marked by frequent public spats.
March 12, 2024Courtesy campaign Facebook pagesPa. election 2024: A complete guide to the primary candidates for auditor generalby Kate Mays, Paige Willett, and Wynter Muro for Spotlight PAIncumbent Tim DeFoor is the only candidate on the Republican primary ballot. Democrats will choose between two candidates: state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley.
March 11, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania treasurer candidates spar over unclaimed property issueby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe debate over unclaimed property contrasts with the race's earlier focus on national political flashpoints.
March 7, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAElections 101: What to know about electronic pollbooks, which Pa. counties use them, and moreby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAE-pollbooks speed up key processes for poll workers. But like most election technology, they are potentially vulnerable to hacking if there aren’t safeguards in place.
March 4, 2024Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. was deluged by election lawsuits in 2020. Experts say 2024 will be even more intense.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PANew challenges are expected to target everything from the legality of drop boxes to what constitutes a valid mail ballot.
Feb. 29, 2024Carter Walker / VotebeatBallot order is critical for candidates. In Pa., it’s determined by luck.by Carter Walker of VotebeatIn Pennsylvania, ballot order is determined with assistance from coffee cans, leather bags, and chip containers.
Feb. 28, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2024: The state House races to watch as Democrats try to keep the majorityby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats flipped the Pennsylvania House in 2022. These are the seats the party is hoping to defend and win this year, as Republicans try to take back the majority.
Feb. 27, 2024Sue Dorfman / For VotebeatElections 101: Everything you need to know about Pa.'s voting machines, how the state keeps them safe, and moreby Carter Walker of VotebeatPolitical candidates have spread false claims about Pa.'s voting machines to undermine trust. In reality, these machines undergo several layers of testing to ensure they produce accurate results.
Feb. 21, 2024Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAA deficit of experienced voting officials could mean trouble for Pa.’s 2024 electionby Carter Walker of VotebeatPennsylvania has lost nearly 300 years of election official experience since 2019. The state’s top voting official says this loss is “one of the biggest dangers” to elections.
Feb. 19, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2024: The state Senate races to watch as Democrats seek the majorityby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPolitical insiders told Spotlight PA that only a small number of districts, mostly in Western and central Pennsylvania, are competitive in this year’s state Senate elections.
Feb. 15, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesTreasurer Stacy Garrity’s decision to invest more Pa. money in Israel Bonds draws protest, Democratic oppositionby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is facing reelection this year, bought $20 million in Israel Bonds to show support. Her Democratic opponents question her motives.
Feb. 13, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADemocrats maintain control of Pennsylvania House after Bucks County special electionby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrat Jim Prokopiak, a local school board member, won the special election to succeed former state Rep. John Galloway.
Feb. 12, 2024Leise Hook / For Spotlight PA and VotebeatThis Pa. activist is the source of false and flawed election claims gaining traction across the countryby Carter Walker of VotebeatA Spotlight PA / Votebeat investigation found Heather Honey’s flawed claims have been cited by ex-President Donald Trump and fueled GOP backlash against a tool intended to keep voter rolls accurate.
Jan. 30, 2024Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAHow Spotlight PA will cover Pennsylvania’s 2024 electionby Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PAOur coverage of critical races will amplify the facts and context voters will need to make an informed choice in their best interest.
Jan. 16, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2024: What is the date of Pennsylvania’s presidential primary election?by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAPennsylvania will hold its 2024 presidential primary election on April 23, one of the latest primary dates in the U.S.
Jan. 2, 2024Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAAs 2024 election approaches, voting officials worry Pa. isn’t prepared for misinformationby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAFour officials share the concrete changes they say would shore up Pennsylvania’s system against frivolous fraud allegations as the 2024 election approaches.
Dec. 19, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAAdministrative election errors rise as Pa. counties struggle to keep voting officialsby Carter Walker of VotebeatElection experts, as well as the Department of State, agree the increase is linked to turnover and loss of experience at local voting offices.
Dec. 15, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAShapiro administration cancels $10.7 million contract for Pa. voter roll system upgradeby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Pa. Department of State has canceled its contract with KNOWiNK for an upgrade to the state voter roll management system. The change will not impact the 2024 election.
Nov. 30, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PACourt ruling on undated ballots brings confusion as Pa. counties certify November election resultsby Carter Walker of VotebeatA federal judge has ruled that Pennsylvania counties should accept undated and misdated mail ballots, but some consider the decision “prospective.”
Nov. 21, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. counties must accept undated, incorrectly dated mail ballots, federal court rulesby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe ruling found the date a voter writes on a return envelope to be “immaterial” to a ballot’s eligibility. It has the potential to prevent the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters next year.
Nov. 15, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PASpending on Pa. Supreme Court race broke records, set precedent for outside influenceby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADemocrat Daniel McCaffery scored a decisive victory over Republican Carolyn Carluccio, buoyed by a rush of last-minute spending on TV ads.
Nov. 9, 2023Hannah Yoon / For Votebeat'Hectic from the get-go': How a new polling place chief in Pennsylvania navigated his first electionby Carter Walker of VotebeatJay Schneider knew Election Day would be tough as a judge of elections. Despite the stress and a few setbacks, he pulled off a smooth experience for voters in Chester County.
Nov. 8, 2023Via candidate Facebook pagesPa. Superior Court election results: Democrats Jill Beck and Timika Lane win open seatsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PADemocrats Beck and Lane have won 10-year terms on the Superior Court, one of Pennsylvania’s appellate benches.
Nov. 7, 2023Via candidate Facebook pagesPa. Commonwealth Court election results: Democrat Matt Wolf beats Republican Megan Martinby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWolf, a Philadelphia municipal judge, has won a 10-year term on Commonwealth Court, one of Pennsylvania’s appellate benches.
Nov. 7, 2023Courtesy campaign Facebook pagesPa. Supreme Court election results: Democrat Daniel McCaffery beats Republican Carolyn Carluccioby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAMcCaffery, a Superior Court judge, has won a 10-year term on the state Supreme Court, one of Pennsylvania’s appellate benches.
Nov. 7, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAVoting machines in Northampton County printed ballots with errors in two judicial racesby Carter Walker of VotebeatOfficials didn’t catch programming errors that caused the flawed printouts in Superior Court retention elections but say correct votes are being recorded electronically.
