On Tuesday, May 17, registered voters across the state of Pennsylvania will be expressing their civic right and duty by visiting their local polling places.  Locally in Central PA the “hot” races are for county commissioners, judges and school boards.  Across the state, Pennsylvanians will  be electing two State-wide Judges – one for Superior Court and one for Commonwealth Court.

Most Pennsylvanians make excuses for why they don’t vote in the Spring election because they don’t see an impact on their vote.  However, every election is an important and a vital part of the democratic process because the Spring primary elections help to narrow down the pool of candidates for the General Election in November.  Another common excuse often heard during Spring elections is “that it only matters in an election year.” These statements are completely untrue!  These elections are so vital because there needs to be a balance of power at all levels of our government and we can’t have elections for all 3 branches of the state and local government at the same time.  That would cause pure chaos if the entire structure of government changed at the same time.  The founding fathers truly understood the necessity for the “balance of power” when constructing the framework of the United States.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes, reminds Pennsylvanians that “Voting is the lifeblood of democracy.  It is the means by which we choose our representatives in the halls of government. Voting, too, is how we honor the heroes of our democracy, who have fought so valiantly to ensure ‘that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.  Let us not forget or dishonor our past and present heroes and do our civic obligation by voting on Tuesday, May 17.  Polls will open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM.  Click Here if you are unsure or do not know where to find your polling place.