If the coming of a proselytizing climate has knocked on your door, it’s because in a few days in Philadelphia and other 66 Pennsylvania counties, primary elections will be held on May 21 to choose the faces that will show up on November 5, 2019, when municipal authorities will be renewed.
The Democratic and Republican primaries in Philadelphia aim to hold general elections for mayor, 17 seats on the city council, county sheriff, register of wills and judges.
Only Philadelphia citizens registered with partisan organizations may participate in this event, but voters in general will be able to select options in the four referendum questions that are also subject to prior scrutiny.
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is holding a general election for mayor on November 5, 2019. A primary is scheduled for May 21, 2019. The filing deadline for partisan candidates in this election was March 12, 2019, and the filing deadline for nonpartisan candidates is August 1, 2019.
Institutional information
For Philadelphia’s election authorities, primaries are of paramount importance. According to data taken from its website, the candidates, the positions they will hold and the issues on the ballot, have a direct impact on the lives of Philadelphia residents more than any other level of government.
As usual, people tend to give much importance to presidential elections such as those to be held in 2020. And although the reasons are not subtracted with the local primaries, voters have the opportunity to make a difference.
According to www.philadelphiavotes.com. it is the duty of all to hold our local officials accountable and to bring change from the base.
From one of the nation’s oldest city, and one of the thirteen provinces that gave birth to “the land of opportunity,” is delivered the message that historically, many of the country’s policies and laws began at the local level. Things like the minimum wage and women’s suffrage emerged through local movements that influenced the federal government, hence the importance of these elections.
What are the positions to renew?
This year’s Municipal Primary Election is a big event, with many offices and issues on the ballot. Republicans and registered Democrats will vote to select their candidates:
- City council.
- Register of wills.
- City Commissioner.
- Judges in the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia.
On top of that, there are important ballot issues that affect all Philadelphia residents. And to participate you don’t need to be registered as a Republican or Democrat to vote on ballot issues.
The topics to vote will be:
- Create a new class of public safety officer, known as the Public Safety Law Enforcement Officer.
- Make the Office of Immigrant Affairs a permanent part of city government.
- Eliminate gender-specific language from the City Charter.
- Change the charter to call on state lawmakers to raise the statewide minimum wage.
Translated by: Josë Espinoza