department-of-state

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Everything you need to know to vote in the Nov. 7 general election

BY: - September 6, 2023

The November general election is 10 weeks away.  To help voters prepare to cast their ballots, the Capital-Star has compiled this guide of deadlines and helpful resources.  How do I register to vote? New voters can register one of four ways — online, by mail, at a PennDOT driver’s license center, or at your county […]

‘Nothing out of the ordinary’ Schmidt says of Pa. primary election

BY: - May 16, 2023

“You will never see a headline that reads an election went smoothly, but that’s what happened today in Pennsylvania,” Schmidt said from the Capitol Media Center. 

A week out from Election Day, outside groups have reported spending $7.7 million on behalf of Democratic and Republican candidates. (Photo by Daniella Heminghaus for the New Jersey Monitor)

From voter registration to mail-in ballot requests: what to know ahead of the May 16 primary

BY: - April 9, 2023

Pennsylvania voters will cast their ballots in mid-May to fill a vacant state Supreme Court seat and a host of municipal-level seats across the commonwealth. 

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman speaks during a voting rights roundtable sponsored by the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus on Wednesday, 10/26/22 (Screen Capture).

Chapman expresses confidence in local election officials ahead of Election Day

BY: - November 7, 2022

In a statement issued on Sunday, Gov. Tom Wolf said that voters should have the opportunity to fix minor errors on their ballots. 

Pa.’s long-running row over undated ballots is back in federal court as Election Day nears

BY: - November 7, 2022

Days before voters head to the polls, Pennsylvania’s long-running political argument over whether to count undated mail-in ballots has been put in the hands of a federal judge. The suit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, asks a judge to bar Pennsylvania election officials from rejecting mail-in ballots […]

Pa. Department of State anticipates ‘several days’ worth of work’ to tally election results

BY: - October 11, 2022

But “this delay does not mean anything nefarious is happening,” Pennsylvania acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman told reporters during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

Licensing bill would broaden access to behavioral analysis treatment, advocates say

BY: - October 3, 2022

'Why aren’t we opening up as many venues as possible? We have so many problems with behavioral health,' state Rep. Thomas Mehaffie, R-Dauphin, said.

State officials encourage Pennsylvanians to serve as poll workers ahead of November election

BY: - August 16, 2022

In Pennsylvania, poll workers are paid for their time working on Election Day and counties provide the training necessary for the poll workers to perform their duties. 

While GOP lawmaker amplifies call for election reform, state officials push back on misinformation

BY: - July 24, 2022

Three lawsuits and a GOP lawmaker's calls for election reform have state officials reassuring the public that their votes will be heard in November.

State officials report more than 910k requests for mail-in, absentee ballots | Five for the Weekend

BY: - May 14, 2022

State election officials are reminding voter who voted or plan to vote via mail-in ballot, to return ballots to their county board of elections as soon as possible.

More than 664K Pa. voters have applied for mail-in ballots ahead of primary election, Pa. says

BY: - April 13, 2022

The 2022 primary election, which will decide each party’s nominees for all 203 state House seats, half of the 50-member state Senate, congressional seats, and the nominees for governor and lieutenant governor in the November general election, is Pennsylvania’s third primary election with the option for no-excuse mail-in ballots.

Senate committee advances proposed constitutional change to reform Pa.’s amendment process

BY: - December 14, 2021

Before being presented to voters, proposed constitutional amendments must pass the Legislature in two consecutive sessions. The costly process can take months, if not years.