March 5, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesJosh Shapiro has a 15-to-1 fundraising advantage over Republican Stacy Garrityby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAShapiro tapped billionaires, unions, and more to raise $23 million in 2025. Garrity relied more heavily on small donations and raised $1.5 million.
Feb. 24, 2026Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania holds tons of special elections. That costs taxpayers millions.by Carter Walker of VotebeatThe state has held 47 special elections since 2017, more than any other state.
Feb. 16, 2026Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAElection officials warn Trump-backed voting bill may be impossible to implement by 2026by Nathaniel Rakich of VotebeatThe SAVE America Act would require people who are registering to vote to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship.
Feb. 12, 2026Courtesy of the Philadelphia City CommissionersPennsylvania plans to test internet-connected pollbooks during the upcoming primaryby Carter Walker of VotebeatMany counties use or have tested e-pollbooks, but the state doesn’t currently allow those systems to be connected to the internet, limiting their utility.
Feb. 9, 2026Mariam Zuhaib / APA Pa. congressional candidate who opposes stock trading by reps. owns individual stocksby Dave Levinthal of NOTUSBob Brooks, who is running for a Lehigh Valley seat, would no longer own individual stocks if he won, a spokesperson said.
Feb. 9, 2026Alex Brandon / APWhat did Trump mean by ‘nationalize the voting’? No one is sure.by Nathaniel Rakich of VotebeatA federal takeover of elections would be an extraordinary challenge to the power of state and local governments to run their own voting.
Feb. 5, 2026Carter Walker / VotebeatChester County will add supervision, new accuracy checks after pollbook error forced 1000s to cast provisional ballotsby Carter Walker of VotebeatDespite promises to make changes, some are calling for the county’s election director to resign.
Jan. 23, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAMistake by ‘inexperienced’ staff forced 1000s to cast provisional ballots in Chester County, review findsby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe report found no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
Jan. 13, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PATrump’s 2020 election pardon doesn’t apply to Pennsylvania man charged with double voting, judge saysby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe man is accused of voting twice for Trump in the November 2020 election, in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Jan. 8, 2026Courtesy office of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRosePa. says it isn’t in talks to enter ‘election integrity network,’ despite Ohio official’s claimby Carter Walker of VotebeatOhio’s top election official claimed Pennsylvania was “finalizing an agreement” to join a program to “identify people who try to vote illegally.”
Jan. 5, 2026Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHigh-stakes 2026 elections will determine control of Pa. legislature, which party sets policyby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PABattleground districts range from south-central Pennsylvania farm country to western rust belt towns to burgeoning suburbs outside major cities.
Dec. 24, 2025Sarah Anne Hughes / Spotlight PAAt least $18.7M poured into this year’s critical Pa. Supreme Court retention racesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASupporters of the three justices — all elected as Democrats — outspent opponents by millions.
Dec. 19, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAProvisional ballot rejections drop in many Pa. counties after envelope redesignby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe use of provisional ballots has risen in recent elections, as has the number of ballots rejected because of issues with the outer envelope.
Dec. 17, 2025Fred Adams / For Spotlight PALuzerne County struggles to leave behind election troubles after years of staff turnover and errorsby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe county has continued to experience election administration errors, raising questions about whether it has moved beyond the high-profile mistakes of its past.
Dec. 8, 2025Carter Walker / VotebeatJudge to rule on whether Trump’s 2020 pardon applies to a Pa. voter fraud caseby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe defendant, accused of voting for Trump twice in 2020, argues the president’s pardon of allies who attempted to overturn his loss should apply to his alleged crimes.
Dec. 4, 2025Carter Walker / VotebeatFraud case sheds light on drawbacks to Pa.’s poll worker election systemby Carter Walker of VotebeatAccording to Lackawanna County officials, a poll worker allegedly wrote her own name on a precinct’s ballots. The case highlights issues with the state’s system of choosing who runs voting locations.
Nov. 25, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAMan accused of double voting in 2020 election says Trump pardon applies to himby Carter Walker of VotebeatLegal scholars say the suspect’s claim stems from “sloppy” language in the president’s proclamation.
Nov. 24, 2025Carter Walker / VotebeatWhy marbles, playing cards, and ping pong balls decide so many local Pa. racesby Carter Walker of VotebeatTie elections happen frequently in low-profile races. Some say reform is needed.
Nov. 18, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAINTERACTIVE: Explore statewide, county, and precinct turnout for Pa.'s Nov. 4 electionby Alexandra Harris and Carlana Johnson of Spotlight PAOur new interactive tool allows you to explore voter turnout by party and location for the commonwealth's 2025 general election.
Nov. 18, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAOver 12,000 Chester County voters cast provisional ballots after a pollbook error. Almost all those ballots are now counted.by Carter Walker of VotebeatAn investigator is still reviewing why third-party and independent voters were left off Chester County’s pollbooks on Nov 4.
Nov. 17, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesVoter support for Trump remains a wildcard as Pa. approaches major election for governorby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PANext year, Gov. Josh Shapiro will likely face Republican Stacy Garrity, a strong ally of the president.
Nov. 12, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAChester County plans independent investigation of pollbook issue that forced 12K to vote provisionallyby Carter Walker of VotebeatChester County’s pollbooks omitted third-party and independent voters, but officials don’t know why.
Nov. 10, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAThe major cases awaiting decisions from Pa.’s highest courtsby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe state Supreme Court often has the final say on major policy decisions that affect virtually every Pennsylvanian.
Nov. 5, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhat happened with Chester County’s pollbook printing problem?by Carter Walker of VotebeatThe county only included major-party voters in its pollbooks, forcing third-party and unaffiliated voters to use provisional ballots or return later.
Nov. 5, 2025Courtesy of Josh MainesDemocrat Josh Maines wins Clearfield County judge race with thin margin over Republican Ryan P. Sayersby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe newcomer to political office bested the current district attorney in a county that President Donald Trump carried by 75% of the vote in 2024.