Can you believe Spring is here? And with Spring comes another cycle of voting action, as in the Spring Primary Election.
This year, the Primary Election in Pennsylvania will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. That’s a little later in the year than we’re used to, but it is what it is. No excuses. If you are 18 or older, you need to do your civic duty and vote on election day, or before election day, via vote by mail in Pennsylvania.
I think it’s all right to talk with others about the voting process. When you share thoughts and ideas, it can help shape some of your decisions, perhaps. Some people think voting should be a big secret, and no one should know who you are voting for or what referendum questions you will support. I think it is definitely okay to share information about who you are voting for when you are around people you’re comfortable with, such as family and friends. It sometimes makes for a healthy, robust conversation and perhaps sometimes even a friendly debate.
The first thing I learned about voting and politics happened right in our home when I was a little girl listening to my parents and their friends talk politics.
Here are some basic things about voting do’s and don’t you should know. If you are one of those people, like me, who still appreciates going to your polling place to vote in person, remember, even if you support a specific candidate, on Election Day, when you get to vote, you can’t wear that shirt or button or campaign gear into the polling place. Be prepared to wear a jacket or sweater to cover the name of the person you are pushing.
If you have campaign literature on you, put it away before you go into the polling place. It’s alright to have a cheat sheet with the names of the candidates you want to vote for when you go to vote. However, keep your cheat sheet in your pocket until you are in the voting booth. You do not want to be accused of trying to force your voting opinions on others.
You should also know that unless you need assistance in the voting booth, voters are expected to stand in the voting booth by themselves as they cast the ballots for the candidates of their choice.
Every now and then, on Election Day, you might see a parent or grandparent take a young child into the voting booth with them. The effort is to expose young people to the importance of voting. However, generally speaking, voters are supposed to be in the booth alone.
Now, if you have a question about the voting process and feel you need some assistance, it is quite alright to ask for help from the election day workers in the room.
When you get to your polling place, if an election day worker tells you that your name is not in the book of registered voters, but you know you are current with your voter registration status, then do not give up. Ask to speak with an election judge so they can resolve the issue for you. The last thing you want to do is to walk away frustrated, saying you won’t vote because of a mix-up with the voter registration binder book.
These are just a few of the do’s and don’ts of what you should or should not do on election day. Meanwhile, spread the word we have a Primary Election coming up in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 20. The last day to register to vote for the Primary Election is May 5.
If you have questions about the voting process, call the Philadelphia City Commissioners office at 215-686- 3462. It’s your Civic Duty to vote. Don’t let us down. Vote like your life depends on it. It does.
