April 25, 2023Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerBill allowing counties to process mail ballots early clears first hurdle in Pa. Houseby Carter Walker of VotebeatLegislation giving election officials a week to “pre-canvass” ballots would speed up results, but other provisions could make it unpalatable to Senate Republicans.
April 19, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAEverything you need to know about requesting, filling out, and returning your mail ballotby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAIf you want to vote by mail in Pennsylvania’s 2023 primary election, you must apply by 5 p.m. May 9.
April 13, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAA basic guide to vetting candidates for school board, judge, and moreby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PALocal candidates with a lot of direct power over Pennsylvanians’ daily lives will appear on the May 16 primary ballot. Here are some tips to learn more about them.
April 12, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAA complete guide to Pa. primary Election Day 2023, including who is on the ballot, when to vote, how to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots, and moreby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADemocrats and Republicans will consider a number of races during Pennsylvania’s primary election on May 16, while other voters may have contests to consider depending on where they live.
April 10, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAElecciones primarias Pa. 2023: Una guía completa de los candidatos a la Corte de la Commonwealth y Cortes Superioresby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADurante las elecciones primarias del 16 de mayo, demócratas y republicanos votarán por los candidatos a ocupar las vacantes de las Cortes Superiores y de la Commonwealth de Pensilvania. Los ganadores se enfrentarán en noviembre.
April 8, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2023: Supreme Court candidates with party backing show fundraising advantageby Kate Huangpu and Stephen CarusoThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court candidates running in the 2023 primary election have raised $365,000 from wealthy donors, their own bank accounts, and in one case, Doug Mastriano.
April 5, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAWATCH: A free panel on Pa.’s Supreme Court candidates and why the 2023 election mattersby Spotlight PA StaffA panel discusses Pa.’s Supreme Court candidates and why the 2023 election matters.
April 4, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PASupporters hope Pa.’s new legislature will embrace open primaries, but at least one big hurdle remainsby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania excludes over a million voters from participating in its partisan primaries, something advocates hope could change this year.
March 31, 2023Deborah Kunselman, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio photos via candidate Facebook pages; Patricia McCullough photo via 2021 campaign website.Elecciones primarias Pa. 2023: Guía completa de los candidatos a la Corte Suprema del Estadoby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADurante las elecciones primarias del 16 de mayo, demócratas y republicanos votarán por los candidatos para ocupar un puesto en la Corte Suprema de Pensilvania.
March 29, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2023: A complete guide to the candidates for Commonwealth and Superior Courtsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADuring the May 16 primary election, Democrats and Republicans will vote for candidates to fill open seats on Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth and Superior Courts. The winners will face off in November.
March 28, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania court decision does little to clear up confusion over fixing mail ballotsby Carter Walker of VotebeatPennsylvania counties will still be able to decide whether to allow voters to fix flawed mail ballots, but election directors are worried about more lawsuits.
March 28, 2023Daniel Fishel / Spotlight PAHow Spotlight PA will cover Pennsylvania’s 2023 primary electionby Christopher Baxter of Spotlight PA and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PARaces for Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth courts as well as many other judicial and municipal contests will be on your ballot this year.
March 21, 2023Deborah Kunselman, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio photos via candidate Facebook pages; Patricia McCullough photo via 2021 campaign website.Pa. primary election 2023: A complete guide to the candidates for state Supreme Courtby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADuring the May 16 primary election, Democrats and Republicans will vote for candidates to fill an open seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The winners will face off in November.
March 9, 2023Courtesy Pennsylvania Capital-StarKey Pa. senator’s record has Democrats, voting advocates worried passing election reform will be difficultby Carter Walker of VotebeatCris Dush, who chairs the state Senate committee that considers voting bills, rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election and led Republicans’ investigation attempt.
Feb. 28, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / For Spotlight PAPa. judges offer conflicting opinions on whether fraud evidence is needed for recount requestsby Carter Walker of VotebeatRecount petitions have become an increasingly common tool for those seeking to question results, leading to delays in certification and fresh doubts about the integrity of the elections.
Feb. 28, 2023Monica Herndon / Philadelphia InquirerSee how your Pennsylvania county ranks on voter friendlinessby Spotlight PA StaffUse Spotlight PA and Votebeat’s interactive scorecard to find out your county’s policy on drop boxes, fixing mail ballots, and more.
Feb. 21, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAUnequal election policies disenfranchised Pennsylvania voters in 2022by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatPennsylvania counties make their own policies on drop boxes, fixing mail ballots, and more, creating an uneven landscape that gives people additional voting options based on where they live.
Feb. 15, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhy election problems continue to plague this northeast Pa. countyby Carter Walker of VotebeatLuzerne County’s unique government structure and high turnover in key positions are causing repeated errors in elections administration, observers say.
Feb. 14, 2023Steven M. Falk / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro sat courtside at a Sixers game with a donor. His campaign called it a ‘political meeting.’by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA spokesperson for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wouldn't say who paid for the pricey tickets, but said the expenses will be reported as an in-kind campaign contribution.
Feb. 9, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACourt won’t force Pa. to release voter info for 2020 election inquiry. That doesn’t mean it’s over.by Carter Walker of VotebeatIt’s uncertain where the decision leaves the state Senate GOP’s 2020 election review, which has languished for much of the past year while the subpoena dispute has moved through the courts.
Feb. 7, 2023Jose F. Moreno / Philadelphia InquirerDemocrats sweep special elections, affirming first Pa. House majority in 12 yearsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats have won three special elections for Pennsylvania’s state House, which means they officially control the chamber after a month-long impasse with Republicans.
Jan. 13, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PASpecial elections to fill Pa. House seats vacated by Democrats should be held Feb. 7, court rulesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatDemocrats and Republicans have been at odds in recent weeks over which party had the authority to schedule three special elections in the chamber.
Jan. 13, 2023Carter Walker / VotebeatNo significant changes found in hand recount of 2020 presidential election in Pa.’s Lycoming Countyby Carter Walker of VotebeatCounty commissioners agreed to the recount after being pressured by activists associated with election conspiracy groups.
Jan. 8, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAThis Pa. county is about to start a hand recount of its 2020 presidential election resultsby Carter Walker of VotebeatCounty commissioners ordered the recount under pressure from activists associated with an election conspiracy group and against the advice of the local election director.
Jan. 5, 2023CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerGov.-elect Josh Shapiro taps Trump target Al Schmidt to be Pa.’s top election officialby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Republican Philadelphia city commissioner famously stood up to former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020 while receiving death threats.
Dec. 29, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACentury-old law let voters file baseless recount petitions and delay Pa.’s election certificationby Carter Walker of VotebeatElection experts and advocates say the Pennsylvania legislature should update an outdated 1927 law that was written for an era of machine politics.
Dec. 29, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAThe Pennsylvania legislature is getting a major infusion of new blood this Januaryby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe nearly 50 new members of the state House will have to navigate a messy power struggle between Democrats and Republicans shortly after they are sworn in.
Dec. 12, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADespite midterm losses, Pa. Republicans appear unlikely to abandon combative agendaby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAfter losing marquee races for governor and U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania Republicans are sticking to their combative agenda.
Dec. 10, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesWith majority at stake, Pa. House Republicans sue to block Democratic-scheduled special electionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats are eager for the contests to take place and presumably cement their majority, while Republicans seek to maintain some measure of power.
Dec. 10, 2022Jessica Griffin / Philadelphia InquirerCost of Pennsylvania governor’s race sets new record amid ‘campaign finance arms race’by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe $100 million total price tag, more than half of which was spent by Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, underscores the state’s notoriously weak campaign finance laws.
