Election category, Page 100
As GOP restricts voting, Democrats move to expand access
Last year, for the first time in more than a quarter-century, Democrats in Virginia took control of the statehouse and the governor’s mansion. Since then, one priority has become clear: expanding voting rights. Once home to the capital of the Confederacy, Virginia has made Election Day a state holiday, repealed...
Navajos say new Arizona restrictions will complicate voting
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Arizona Republicans say the voter restrictions they’re pushing after President Joe Biden’s win in the state last year are designed to strengthen the integrity of future elections. To some, the changes will make voting more difficult than it already is. The bills, some signed into law this...
Westmoreland elections office to open over weekend for mail-in ballots
Westmoreland County’s Election Bureau will be open this weekend to distribute ballots to voters who requested but not received their mail-in and absentee ballots for Tuesday’s primary election. The courthouse office will operate from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to reissue ballots, said Election Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani....
Election HQ: A voter guide to 2021 primary races
Primary election day in Pennsylvania is Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. The state has an online tool to let voters find their polling place by entering their address here. For more information on...
Westmoreland officials say voters who receive mail-in ballots this weekend should use drop boxes
Westmoreland County elections officials said Thursday that all 18,000-plus mail-in ballots requested for Tuesday’s primary have been sent. Election Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said the last batch of ballots, requested in the final days before the May 11 deadline, were mailed Wednesday and should arrive by this weekend. As of...
Program cuts an issue in 8-way race for Greensburg Salem School Board
Cuts in programs at Greensburg Salem School District are one of the focal points of a primary campaign where three incumbents and five challengers are battling for four school board seats. Running are incumbents Lynn Jobe, Jeffrey Metrosky and Lynna Thomas along with Sara Deegan, Desmond Grace, Autumn Jevicky, Emily...
2 challengers face 2 incumbents in Greensburg council primary
A pair of Republicans and Democrats are on the ballot Tuesday in a bid for Greensburg city council. Incumbents Gregory Mertz and Donnie Zappone Jr., both Republicans, hope to keep their seats against challenges from newcomers Yukie King and Ceil Kessler, two Democrats who are backed by Voice of Westmoreland,...
4 district judge seats in Westmoreland County have contested primary races this spring
A quarter of Westmoreland County’s 16 district courts will see a new judge in 2022. Eleven candidates are seeking four contested seats on the local courts seeking to replace three retiring judges and fill one seat left vacant by a resignation. Judicial candidates are permitted to cross-file and all will...
5 Republicans vie for 4 council seats in Trafford primary
When Republican voters in Trafford head to the polls Tuesday for the primary election, they will find a slate of five hopefuls seeking four open seats on borough council. Incumbent Zack Cole is seeking reelection. He will be joined on the ballot by newcomers Justin L. Batzel, Brian M. Lindbloom,...
3 candidates vie for state Rep. Jeff Pyle’s seat in special election
Three candidates will vie for the seat of former state Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, in a special election being held in the 2021 municipal primary election on Tuesday, May 18. Pyle, in his ninth term, stepped down in March for health reasons. The winner of the special election will...
3 candidates vie to fill vacancy in 59th district special election
Ligonier Democrat Mariah Fisher, Unity Republican Leslie Baum Rossi and Ligonier Libertarian Robb Luther will square off Tuesday in a special election to fill the vacancy in the 59th Legislative District created by the Jan. 2 death of state Rep. Mike Reese. Reese, a 42-year-old Republican rising star from Mt....
No-knock warrants, jail confinement on ballot in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Allegheny County and Pittsburgh voters will be asked to decide separate criminal justice issues on ballot questions in the May 18 primary. If approved, the ballot questions would ban Pittsburgh police from serving warrants without announcing themselves, and the use of solitary confinement would be restricted at Allegheny County Jail....
39 candidates fight for 9 Allegheny County Common Pleas judicial seats
Voters on Tuesday will have the chance to impact the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court’s future as nine seats are up for election. Thirty-nine candidates are vying for 10-year positions on the bench. Judges earn $189,794. Although there is a large slate of candidates this year, it’s not even close...
Trump-backed Sean Parnell announces bid for U.S. Sen. Toomey’s seatVideo
Sean Parnell has officially declared his candidacy to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate. Parnell, a Republican, is a former Army platoon leader, veterans charity founder and published author who resides in Ohio Township. On Tuesday, he joined a growing field of candidates vying for the seat held by Sen....
Westmoreland County puts out call for poll workers
Westmoreland officials said Tuesday that dozens of poll workers are needed to staff the county’s 307 voting precincts for the May 18 primary. In all, the county needs 11 judges of elections and as many as 50 poll workers, Election Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said. Judges of elections are needed...
Sean Parnell expected to announce run for Pennsylvania Senate seat
HARRISBURG — Sean Parnell, a decorated Army veteran and regular guest on Fox News programs who became a favorite of former President Donald Trump, is expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat. Parnell, who unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb in...
Westmoreland officials seek answers for Mt. Pleasant Township ballot error
Westmoreland County elections officials on Monday continued to piece together how the race for a district judge’s seat was excluded from mail-in ballots sent to voters last week in four Mt. Pleasant Township precincts. “It’s my responsibility,” Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said of the oversight that led to 189...
Pittsburgh’s mayoral election features 2 established candidates and 2 novices
Pittsburgh’s mayoral race pits two political insiders, the incumbent and a longtime state representative, against two outsiders, a retired cop and an Ivy League-educated math tutor/ride-hailing driver. Talk of equity and reform unite the men, but each have different approaches to the subject. The May 18 Democratic primary likely decides...
4 seek GOP primary nod for supervisor in Mt. Pleasant Towship
Mt. Pleasant Township voters will be sending a new face to the three-member board of supervisors this fall for the first time in years with the retirement of Jack Rutkowski. Five candidates — four Republicans and one Democrat — are seeking nomination to run for the post and an opportunity...
Incorrect ballots mailed to some Mt. Pleasant voters, Westmoreland County says
Westmoreland County officials acknowledged that more than 190 incorrect mail-in ballots were issued to voters in Mt. Pleasant Township. Ballots issued to voters in four precincts — Ridgeview, Mammoth, United and Westmoreland Homestead — erroneously omitted the race for district judge to replace Michael Mahady, who will retire at the...
4 challengers face 3 incumbents in Greater Latrobe School Board primary
Seven cross-filed candidates are vying for four seats on the Greater Latrobe School Board. Among those seeking nominations in the May 18 primary are incumbents Bill Palmer, Heidi Kozar and Cathy Sarraf. Steven LoCascio is not pursuing a second term. The field of challengers includes Ryan Scarton, Andrew Repko, Tom...
Nearly 120K OK’ed to vote by mail, absentee in Allegheny County; Tuesday marks deadline to apply
Allegheny County elections officials on Friday urged voters who want to vote by mail in the May 18 primary to do so as soon as possible so their applications can be received and processed by Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline. The county has approved 118,195 applications from voters seeking early ballots...
Norwin school board candidates emphasize mental health, budget, transparency
School district spending and keeping students safe are among issues raised by the nine candidates seeking nominations for four seats on the Norwin School Board in the May 18 primary. The race features two incumbents, two separate teams of candidates and two candidates running independently of the others. All of...
Hempfield Area School Board primary slate includes 9 candidates
Unlike the 2019 primary, when several Hempfield Area School Board candidates seemingly formed a unified front in a desire to end property tax assessment appeals, the nine candidates hoping to clinch one of the four open seats this year are running for a variety of reasons. The pool is made...
Drop box added at Murrysville location ahead of May 18 primary
Westmoreland County officials say more than 15,400 mail-in ballots have been sent out to voters ahead of the May 18 primary. Another batch of more than 800 ballots is ready to go out, Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said. The deadline to apply for mail-in ballots is May 11. They...
