Elections follow a 4-year cycle:
YOUR ADDRESS determines what positions you see on your ballot, so your ballot may not have every single position showing. For example:
- PA State Senators serve 4 year terms, and your Senator may not be up for reelection until 2024.
- But everyone will see Representative in the General Assembly (AKA State Representative) candidates because these positions serve 2 year terms and appear on every “even year” ballot.
FOR DEMOCRATS ONLY:
What are “Committeepersons” on this Primary’s ballot?
Committeepersons are the Democratic Party’s feet on the ground. Each of the County’s 230 precincts has two CP positions. Committeepersons are elected every 4 years at the same time as the gubernatorial primary. Their duties include:
• Keeping track of news from County Party (CCDC) and the relevant Democratic Zone (there are 20)
• Encouraging your registered Democrat neighbors to vote
• Giving registered Democrats appropriate information about each upcoming election
• Attending zone meetings and helping plan and carry out strategies for the Party’s success
• Helping to greet and inform voters at the polls on election days.
What is “Democratic State Committee” (PADSC) on this Primary’s ballot?
The Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee (PADSC) is the governing body of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. PADSC members are elected to four-year terms during the Primary election at the same time of the year as the gubernatorial primary. They meet in full three times each year to elect party leadership, hold statewide candidate endorsement conventions, pass and promote a party platform, elect members of the DNC, act as a liaison between state and county communication, and help lead organizing efforts across the commonwealth.
- State Committee, like precinct committee, is held during the primary of the gubernatorial election cycle. Chester County currently has 8 members, 4 men and 4 women, but due to the growth of the Democratic registration in the county, this year we will elect 5 women and 5 men.
- You may vote for up to 10 candidates for PADSC on this Primary ballot. The 5 candidates with the most votes for women and the most votes for men will win a seat.
|
Position |
What They Do |
Why Should I Care? |
|
US Senator |
·
Member
of the co-equal Legislative Branch of the USA ·
Sponsors
and votes on new laws ·
Confirms
the President’s appointees ·
Provides
advice and consent to ratify treaties and confirms judicial and other presidential
nominees |
●
Each
state gets 2 Senators, so each has enormous power over what laws get passed ●
Some
legislation requires 60 Senate votes to pass, so when the majority of
Senators is of the same Party as the President, it’s easier to pass
critically needed new laws |
|
US Congressperson |
●
Member of the co-equal Legislative Branch of the United States of America ●
Makes new Laws or modifies existing ones ●
In charge of the Federal Budget (taxes,
borrowing, spending) ●
Has Oversight authority of the Executive
Branch ●
Can Impeach federal officials who break the
law or their oath of office ●
Elects the President in the case of an
Electoral College tie |
●
Creates and votes on bills (laws) that are
important to my life (regarding Healthcare, Civil Rights, Immigration, Social
Services, Family and Medical Leave, etc.) ●
Helps me access Federal program assistance
such as Covid 19 relief, Social Security or
Veteran’s benefits ●
Can subpoena and share critical information
with the public so I know what’s going on |
|
PA Governor |
●
Implements
laws and manages operations in the state ●
Declares
State of Emergency ●
Commands
the State’s National Guard |
●
Has
Veto power over bad legislation (such as dropping gun licensing requirements) ●
Appoints
the Secretary of State, a position that runs PA’s election process |
|
PA Lieutenant Governor |
●
President
of the State Senate ●
Chairs
the state Board of Pardons ●
Chairs
the state Emergency Counsel |
●
Reviews
all pleas for criminal pardons in the state ●
Establishes
policy for managing emergencies in PA |
|
PA State Senator |
● Works with the State House of
Representatives to create and pass bills (laws) on Public Policy matters in
PA ● Sets levels for PA spending ● Raises and lowers PA taxes ● Can uphold or override a Veto on
legislation signed by the Governor |
●
Writes or amends laws that impact my family
and community, such as: ○
Vote by mail ○
Rules for police conduct within the
Commonwealth ●
Provides funding for public services such as
Firefighters, Emergency Medical services, public schools, and Covid 19 grant relief ●
Protects Pennsylvania’s environment (water,
air)
|
|
PA State House
Representative |
●
Works with the State Senate to create and
pass bills (laws) on Public Policy matters that represent local concerns of
constituents ●
Educates and helps constituents access State
programs available to them |
●
Helps me access VA benefits, addiction
treatment, housing, and mental health services ●
Educates and advocates for public health and
safety issues that impact my neighborhood, such as the Mariner East pipeline ●
Assists with my application for licenses to
do business in PA |
|
PA Supreme Court Judge |
·
Highest Court in PA ·
Chooses which appeals to hear
from the Commonwealth and Superior courts ·
Can choose to hear cases of “immediate
public importance” from the lower courts |
·
In 2018, this court struck down
gerrymandered voting districts. It ordered a new, fairly drawn congressional
map. ·
This court decided against a Republican
lawsuit asking to throw out 2.5 million Pennsylvania mail-in ballots in the
2020 election. |