Your guide to Pa.’s 2021 primary ballot questions
All Pennsylvania voters yes, that includes independents and minor-party members will be asked to consider four ballot questions. Two of them are about as non-controversial as possible. The other two? A different story. Below, Spotlight PA breaks down the basics of what they would do, who is in favor and who is opposed. More.
Ballot questions should be clear, but 2 written by Wolf administration don’t pass test, critics say
Two proposed constitutional amendments that will be before voters have drawn the ire of Republican leaders in the state House and Senate, who called language written by the Wolf administration “prejudicial.” More.
Valley communities include Buffalo Township, Freeport, South Buffalo, Gilpin, North Apollo and Kiski Township.
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Three candidates will vie for the seat of former state Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, in a special election being held the day of 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 fill his seat immediately and serve until the end of 2022.
The state’s 60th House District covers parts of Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties.
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All 8.8 million of Pennsylvania’s registered voters will be able to cast ballots on May 18, when four referendums will appear, including three that seek the change the state’s constitution.
Primary elections in Pennsylvania usually are limited to voters registered as Democrats and Republicans to nominate candidates to appear in the November general election. This year, the primary will be open to the state’s nearly 1.3 million voters registered with third parties or with no political affiliation.
Ballot questions include two specific referendum that address how future state of emergencies will be handled in Pennsylvania on the heels of Republican criticism of stay-at-home and business closure orders implemented by Gov. Tom Wolf during the coronavirus pandemic.
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The payments, known as “per diems,” have long been criticized as an unnecessary largesse for the country’s largest full-time legislature, which pays the third-highest salaries for state lawmakers in the country.
A Spotlight PA analysis of legislative records found lawmakers requested and received $726,877 from the beginning of March as the pandemic emerged through the end of 2020 as reimbursement for lodging and meals while traveling to and from the Capitol or other meetings across the state.
Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer County, pocketed the most per-diem money at $24,115, followed by Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence County.
Southwestern Pennsylvania lawmakers requested and received about $145,000 combined. Here’s a rundown of who got how much: