Preparing For The Upcoming Municipal Primary On May 16

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – In a few weeks, voters will be choosing which candidates from their political party will move forward to the Nov. 7 Municipal Election ballot. Pennsylvania holds closed primary elections which require a voter to be a member of a major political party to vote for that party’s candidate(s). For example, a voter cannot vote in the Democratic primary unless he is a registered member of the Democratic party. The candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the primary will be the nominees representing their party on the Municipal Election ballot in November. 

Offices on this year’s ballot include the following:

• Justice of the Supreme Court
• Judge of the Superior Court
• Judge of the Commonwealth Court
• County commissioners
• Clerk of Courts
• Controller
• Coroner
• District Attorney
• Prothonotary
• Register and Recorder
• Sheriff
• Magisterial District Judge #39-2-01, #39-3-02, #39-3-05 and #39-3-06
• School directors
• Auditors
• Township supervisors
• Councilpersons

There are also a few municipalities that have the office of mayor and/or tax collector on their ballots due to vacancies.

Turnout for recent municipal primaries has ranged from 13% in 2017 to 28% in 2021.  While many voters choose only to vote during a presidential or gubernatorial election cycle, it is the county, municipal and school board elected officials who impact the lives of the residents each and every day on topics such as taxes, zoning, water/sewer, roads and bridges, and policies affecting children in local schools.

To prepare for voting at the upcoming Municipal Primary, here are some suggestions on how to become educated on who is actually running for office in your community:

• Specimen/sample ballots can be viewed on the county’s website at this link: https://franklincountypa.gov/index.php?section=voter-registration_precinct-info
• Information on candidates can also be viewed at this link: https://www.franklinvotes.org/candidates 
• Many of the candidates have either websites and/or Facebook pages where you can learn more about them.
• The local newspapers are planning on covering contested races in the next several weeks.
• You may also contact local party offices for additional information on candidates.

Any questions concerning the upcoming election should be directed to the Franklin County Voter Registration Office at 717-261-3886 or the Franklin County Election Board at 717-261-3810. Additional election and voter registration information is available on the county’s website, www.franklincountypa.gov.

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