This is true. Some open secrets people need to know:

(Edits in bold.)

Republicans always have DINO's (people registered Democratic but firmly on the side of the local Republican committee) to sign petitions and get their Republican judicial and school board candidates on the Democratic primary ballot.

Having Republican candidates on the Democratic Primary ballot really adds pressure to Democratic candidates, who (reasonably or otherwise) will stress out about losing the Democratic primary to their opponent. It does make local Dems scramble, and if there aren't effective Democratic poll greeters, our opponents are more than happy to (scrupulously or otherwise) guide Democratic voters to their preferred candidates.

If the Republicans can get a local Democratic candidate removed from the primary ballot on some technicality, in my experience, they will do so.

Then expect fliers going around saying that their right wing whacko candidate is "the only candidate on the Democratic ballot." This language WILL trick many voters into thinking they are a Democrat. That's more work for the local Democrats to educate voters out of that.

What can you do?

You can provide support to your local candidate. Driving them around when they knock doors is a huge help. Having a neighborhood get-together at your home to introduce the candidate is fantastic. Even just texting them to tell them they are awesome will help. And financial contributions at this level go a long way.

Another, easier thing you can do is to register Republican, or keep your registration that way, and reach out to your local party (google <county name> county democrats) and let them know you want to sign cross-filed candidate petitions.

This evens the field a bit, putting pressure on the Republican Party to defend their seats in the primary (or if they don't, we can win them, which gives us a large advantage in November).

Petition signing will be in February. Once this year's election is squared away, you will be able to find the dates here:

https://www.vote.pa.gov/about-elections/pages/election-calendar.aspx

Thanks, didn't know about the flip. I've edited the post. Better?

One of the school board elections in 2019 for this school board was decided by two votes.

Offices for PA school board are up for election on November 7, 2023.

Candidates step forward, they will need to start working their campaign in February 2023. They could use help, and any American can do it.

And information people can be hard work.

It's sad but true that people have a general bias towards inaction that drives down voting rates.

People will tend to believe the things that mean they don't need to do anything.

I've had Independent voters insist to me they weren't allowed to vote in non-Presidential year general elections, because they weren't registered with a party.

FACT: There is an election ever November in PA, and all registered voters, regardless of party registration, are eligible to participate.

(The situation for the spring primary elections is a little more muddled. Unaffiliated/minor party candidates won't have primary candidates to vote for, but there are sometimes referenda for PA Constitutional amendments, or local issues. But November, every year.)

People start their voting habit when they develop a connection to some broader community, whether it's your physical neighborhood, or some other group.

"My vote" might not matter, but "our votes" swing elections.

Evolution only happens is response to a changing environment.

If they think they don't have to change to survive politically, they won't.

This week's election results are a pleasant surprise to Democrats, but to Republicans, they are a stinging rebuke — out of the clear, blue sky. Some are realizing that, if they want to keep getting the free steak, liquor, and companionship from lobbyists three nights a week, they're going to need to adapt.

It's a good question without a simple answer.

Fetterman's victory, with his strong performance across the state, sends a strong message that his legal weed platform is a winner.

Shapiro is a Fetterman ally, so expect him to look favorably on Fetterman's signature issue.

If the Democrats win the state house (it looks like they will) that shakes things up a lot in Harrisburg.

Lawmakers generally want to keep getting elected, so considering everything above, Republican state senators may decide this is an issue that their views can “evolve” on to appeal to the voters they lost this cycle.

But they might moderate on some other issue instead.

But we can help make it happen.

Contact your state senator and statehouse rep, and let them know you want weed legalized.

Even if your representative don't need convincing, they can show their colleagues data on how much their constituents are demanding action on this.

Yes, that's very likely at this point.

https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/election-day-pennsylvania-house-democrats-republicans-politics/

You don't need to take any action. The election workers will verify.

All this hubbub is caused by PA election laws being cumbersome. If we reformed out laws to be more like Florida (which, apparently, has their stuff together here) it would be so much smoother.

Of course, there's one party that doesn't want this process to get any smoother, so without a big swing towards the Dems, we get to keep this quirky system.

As long as you signed and dated your outer envelope, included the secrecy envelope and didn't mark it, you should be fine. (Yes, that's a lot of ifs, many of them unnecessary hoops to jump through. That's what we've got.)

And those fortunate enough to have jobs that still offer paid time off for jury duty. It's not unheard of.

Of course, the boss might expect you to “catch up” on your tasks after serving jury duty, but that's a different issue.

Thanks, that's right, will edit.

It’s long overdue that the concept of a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work comes (back) to our state courts.

Federal jurors get $50 a day (until completing 45 days of jury service, then it goes to $60) — still a pittance, but they are (slowly) moving in the right direction.

Judges will chide people for trying to get out of jury duty, but it’s only the financially rational thing to do.

And things are tight for so many workers, it's pretty unreasonable to expect people to shrug off the loss of income.

But a little financial consideration would change the attitude of many potential jurors, and you'd see more people content to serve. A lot of folks would be like: "Well, it’s not what I could make otherwise, but it’s something.”

Does anyone know if parking tickets are considered “non-driving reasons”?

Ref:

>Your driver’s license can be suspended for many reasons, including unpaid parking tickets, too many speeding ticket points, child support arrears, drug possession and driving under the influence.

https://bentley-law.com/criminal-defense/vehicle-related-matters/driving-on-a-suspended-license/

Voter Services is the authority there. It sounds like you are.

If you are going to college outside of PA, but you still have a "home home" (technically, a "homestead") in PA, then you can remain a PA voter.

This might help: https://www.vote.pa.gov/Voting-in-PA/Pages/College-Student.aspx

You should call your county's Voter Services office and ask. Just Google your county name plus: voter services.

They (successfully) discourage their voters from voting by mail, then they try to reject as many vote-by-mail ballots as possible. The disenfranchise some of their own voters, but come out ahead.

That said: Please go ahead and vote by mail if that' s convenient for your.

Statistically, the number of ballots the R's can get thrown out are smaller than the number of people who wouldn't make it to the polls on election day, if they'd decided to vote in person.