By Alex Roché, Director of Advocacy, GRCA
The primary election is one of those things that can sneak up on people, but in a lot of cases, it really matters. For folks across Berks County, it is your first chance to weigh in on who is going to be making decisions that affect your day-to-day life. And in many local races, this is not just the first round; the primary often ends up deciding who wins.
A lot of the positions on the ballot might not sound exciting at first, but they connect directly to your everyday routine. Think about how your streets are maintained, what is happening in your schools, how safe your neighborhood feels and whether businesses are growing. That is the kind of work local leaders like mayors, council members and school boards are focused on. At the state level, lawmakers are making decisions that affect school funding, healthcare and cost of living across Pennsylvania. And, in some years, you also will see judges on the ballot, and their decisions interpreting the law that can have a real impact on people and communities.
Pennsylvania keeps the primary process straightforward. It is a closed primary, which just means you need to be registered with a political party to vote in that party’s primary. Democrats vote for Democratic candidates, Republicans vote for Republican candidates, and those winners move on to the general election. If you are registered as an independent or something else, you will sit this one out but can vote in November in the general election.
This year, the primary is Tuesday, May 19. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and if you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be able to vote. Your polling place is based on where you live, and it is easy to look it up through the Berks County Office of Election Services or the Pennsylvania Department of State.
As for how to vote, you have a couple of easy options. You can go in person to your polling place, check in and fill out your ballot. If it is your first time voting there, you might be asked to show ID. Or you can vote by mail. Thanks to Act 77 (2019), any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot. Once you get it, just follow the instructions, use the secrecy envelope and make sure it gets back on time. It must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day or else it will not be counted.
At the end of the day, the primary is another way you get to use your voice. It is your chance to help shape what the ballot looks like in November and have a say in where things go from here. Planning to vote, whether that is in person or by mail, is a simple way to stay connected and be part of what is happening in your community.
It also connects to a bigger question many of us have heard at some point: what do you want to be when you grow up? It turns out that question is not just for individuals. It applies to communities, too. So, what do you want Berks County to look like as it continues to grow up?
Getting out to vote is one of the most meaningful ways to make sure your voice is part of that conversation as we shape the future of the region together.