During a Pandemic: VOTING 101 (Part 2)
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| via APNews |
In my previous post, you can see the breakdown of the actual voting process. This post will be a breakdown of candidates on the ballot for the Pennsylvania primary, with information on their policies and position descriptions.
Disclaimer: This is an informational collective post. I am not claiming to have written these things in my own words. I have copy/pasted sections from the websites that are linked for each bolded and underlined section.
Primary elections, which are commonly referred to as simply primaries, is the pre-election process for constituents to select their preferred candidate for upcoming general elections at all levels of government. Depending on the state, primaries are structured a little differently:
- Open Primary: An open primary allows for any registered voter, regardless of declared political affiliation, to cast a vote.
- Closed Primary: A closed primary is restricted to voters registered with the same party that has candidates running.
At the presidential level, the outcome of state primaries influences how delegates vote during the national convention. A delegate is essentially a representative of the respective state who votes on behalf of the constituency at the national party convention.
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| via Wikipedia |
Pennsylvania’s closed primary elections shut out more than one million voters from important elections every year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, 1,213,865 of 8,498,693 voters were registered as unaffiliated with a political party or with a third party in May 2019. This segment of the state’s electorate has been increasing for years, consistent with a national trend of voters identifying as independents. But in Pennsylvania, these voters are prevented from participating in the local, state and federal primaries that are likely the most important elections in their communities.
The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress.
President of the United States 1 Dem Bernie Sanders
President of the United States 1 Dem Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States 1 Dem Tulsi Gabbard
President of the United States 1 Rep Donald J. Trump
President of the United States 1 Rep Roque Rocky De La Fuente
President of the United States 1 Rep Bill Weld
Attorney General 1 Dem Josh Shapiro
Attorney General 1 Rep Heather Heidelbaugh
The Pennsylvania Auditor General is an elected position in the Pennsylvania state government. The auditor general serves as the commonwealth's fiscal watchdog, ensuring that all state money is spent legally and properly.
Auditor General Dem H. Scott Conklin
Auditor General Dem Michael Lamb
Auditor General Dem Tracie Fountain
Auditor General Dem Rose Rosie Marie Davis
Auditor General Dem Nina Ahmad
Auditor General Dem Christina M. Hartman
Auditor General Rep Timothy DeFoor
State Treasurer Dem Joe Torsella
State Treasurer Rep Stacy L. Garrity
Also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman, each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The number of representatives with full voting rights is 435, a number set by Public Law 62-5 on August 8, 1911, and in effect since 1913. The number of representatives per state is proportionate to population.
Representative in Congress - 11th District Dem Sarah E. Hammond
Representative in Congress - 11th District Dem Paul Daigle
Representative in Congress - 11th District Rep Lloyd K. Smucker
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is Pennsylvania's state legislature, seated at the state's capital, Harrisburg. It has been a bicameral legislature since 1790. The General Assembly consists of an upper house, the Pennsylvania State Senate, and a lower house, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Senator in the General Assembly - District Dem Janet Diaz
Senator in the General Assembly - District Dem Craig Lehman
Senator in the General Assembly - District Rep Scott Martin
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 13 Dem Richard Ruggieri
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 13 Rep John Lawrence
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 37 Dem John Padora
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 37 Rep Mindy Fee
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 41 Dem Michele Wherley
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 41 Rep Brett R. Miller
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 41 Rep Brad Witmer
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 43 Dem vacant
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 43 Rep Keith J. Greiner
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 96 Dem Mike Sturla
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 96 Rep
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 97 Dem Dana Hamp Gulick
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 97 Rep Steve Mentzer
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 98 Dem Bill Troutman
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 98 Rep David S. Hickernell
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 99 Dem Rick Hodge
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 99 Rep Dave Zimmerman
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 100 Dem vacant
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 100 Rep Bryan D. Cutler
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 128 Dem
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 128 Rep Mark M. Gillen
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 129 Dem Kelly McDonough
Representative in the General Assembly Dist 129 Rep Jim Cox
The 2020 Democratic presidential nominee will be selected by delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which will be held the week of August 17, 2020, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The national nominating convention is the formal ceremony during which the party officially selects its nominee. The delegates are individuals chosen to represent their state, territory, or Democrats Abroad at the convention.
Dem Lauren Edgell - Committed to Bernie Sanders
Dem Eliza Booth - Committed to Bernie Sanders
Dem Zakary Gregg - Committed to Bernie Sanders
Dem Bryan Hower - Committed to Joseph R. Biden
Dem Nelly Torres - Committed to Bernie Sanders
Dem Michael Maguire - Committed to Joseph R. Biden
Dem Jonathan Smucker - Committed to Bernie Sanders
Rep Elam Stoltzfus
Rep Lloyd K. Smucker
Rep Allison Blew
Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention
Rep Glen G. Beiler, Jr.
11th Congressional District
Rep Jenna Geesey
Rep Bryant J. Glick
