The Pennsylvania 2020 Primary Election

           The Pennsylvania 2020 Primary Election is Tuesday, June 2.  As I had posted beforehand, it was delayed from April 28 because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

            The Commonwealth is coincidentally implementing its new no-excuse absentee ballot law, which is timely because of the pandemic, although in-person voting will still be widely available.  No-excuse absentee ballots may be dropped off no later than 8:00 PM on Primary Election Day at County Election Services offices.  Some Counties, at least, have drop boxes available for the safe casting of ballots.

            On the ballot are nominations for President of the United States, Delegate and Alternate Delegate for the major party conventions, statewide row offices (Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor), U.S. House (all 18 seats), state Senate (half of the seats) and House (all seats).   Registered Democrats and Republicans may each vote only in their respective party primaries. 

However, there are also ballot questions in some municipalities, for which any registered voter, including those with no party affiliation, may cast ballots.  In Reading, there are five ballot questions proposed by the Charter Review Commission I chaired to amend the City’s Home Rule Charter, which, among other issues, strengthen the separation of powers principle and the independence of the City Auditor:  https://www.readingpa.gov/content/reading-charter-review-commission-2019-2020-report.

            On the ballot are conservative candidates for various offices, some of whom are relatively less Trumpist (populist, protectionist, isolationist, xenophobic and authoritarian).  For example, the Trump Campaign endorsed candidates for Delegate and Alternate, which validates this point.  Vote for the most principled, most conservative and least Trumpist and Trump-like candidates possible, or write in preferred names, if none of those on the ballot are acceptable.

           Primary elections are always critically important, not only for electing party officials, but because they determine the choices in the General Election, which because they are often hardly contested, the likely winner of the office is decided in the primary.  But this year’s primary, between the implementation of the new law and the precautions and restrictions necessary because of the pandemic, is also a test run for the General Election in November, which must be free from foreign interference and safe enough for voters to exercise their privilege to vote.