Hello John!

We hope this edition of the New Pennsylvania Project eBlast finds you well.

Please take a few moments to check out all the important news you can use, volunteer and career opportunities, and other resources as we prepare for the November 7th local, municipal and judicial elections. 

It was touch-and-go for a few days, but last week lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House resoundingly rejected a number of election reforms that including a more restrictive voter ID requirement. The New Pennsylvania Project knows that additional voter ID laws serve no purpose other than to disenfranchise the communities in which we center our work and run counter to our organizational mission of ensuring full participation by Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrant communities and the youth in the democratic process. With that in mind, we are grateful of the vote taken in the Pennsylvania House to defeat the effort to expand voter ID, and add additional barriers to voting. 

What’s at Stake in Pennsylvania’s State Supreme Court Race?

(Democracy Docket)

In a comment to Democracy Docket, New Pennsylvania Project’s CEO Kadida Kenner contextualized the race’s wide-reaching implications, “There’s too much at stake this year including; access to healthcare, equitably funded schools and voting rights themselves. With the nation’s high court punting major decisions such as access to abortion to the states, state courts are increasingly becoming more powerful.”

Pennsylvania Republicans introduce new proposal to change voter ID requirements

(Fox43)

"We’re very concerned that this will suppress some votes in Pennsylvania," said Kadida Kenner, the CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project. "Those who don’t have all the information they need about what is acceptable ID, could dissuade some folks from actually showing up to a poll."

Expanded voter ID requirements are back on the table in Pennsylvania

(SpotlightPA)

Kadida Kenner of the New Pennsylvania Project, a voting rights group, said her organization is watching the voter ID amendment with caution. “New Pennsylvania Project is always going to be concerned about anything that puts an additional barrier in front of Pennsylvania voters,” she said. “What we are concerned about as an organization is this is the beginning of how voting rights get chipped away.”

A complete guide to the candidates for state Supreme Court

(Spotlight PA)

During Pennsylvania’s general election on Nov. 7, voters will select the newest state Supreme Court justice. The winner of the election will have considerable power over the interpretation of laws in the commonwealth, and will help determine the balance of the court in coming years.

A complete guide to the candidates for Commonwealth and Superior Courts

(Spotlight PA)

On Nov. 7, Pennsylvanians will select a new judge for Commonwealth Court and two for Superior Court — and all of these new judges will immediately wield the power to referee legal disputes over state law and decide major criminal cases.

A complete guide to who is on the ballot, when to vote, how to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots & more

(Spotlight PA)

Across the state, depending on where you live, there might also be municipal races on the ballot, for offices like mayor and school board, along with ballot questions.

Infused by national politics, school board races look like the main event in November elections

(PennLive)

Remember when school board elections used to be dominated by discussions about property taxes and hyper-local issues like whether to install synthetic turf at the football stadium?
 

Here's why a state Supreme Court race matters for the rest of the country ahead of 2024

(USA Today)

In less than a month, Pennsylvania voters will cast their ballots in the state’s Supreme Court race between Democratic candidate Dan McCaffery and Republican candidate Carolyn Carluccio.

Pennsylvania universities are still waiting for state subsidies. It won’t make them more affordable

(Associated Press)

Four of Pennsylvania’s universities are plugging budget gaps while they await hundreds of millions of dollars in aid that has been snarled in a partisan dispute among lawmakers in a state that has one of the nation’s most abysmal records for funding higher education.

Ousting a sitting judge is rare. Delaware County Democrats are suggesting their voters do so this November

(Philadelphia Inquirer)

In a move insiders say represents a bold shift in local politics, Delaware County Democrats are recommending that voters remove three Republican judges from the county Court of Common Pleas in November.

The New Pennsylvania Project is actively seeking volunteers in Bucks County, Chester County, and the Lehigh Valley to assist with our voter registration and Get Out The Vote door knocking and phone banking efforts this October and November.

If you live in one of these areas and are interested in getting involved, email [email protected] for more information!

The New Pennsylvania Project is a voting rights organization with a primary focus of registering communities of color and the youth to vote. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help defend democracy by expanding the electorate.

• Community Engagement Associate (Lehigh Valley, Bucks County, and Delaware County)
• Bookkeeper (Part Time)
• Part-Time: Education & Engagement Associate in Lehigh Valley, Bucks County, and Delaware County (via c3 organization New PA Project Education Fund)

To learn more about how to apply and review job descriptions with requirements and disclosed salary ranges, please click here.

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed. We'll be back in two weeks with the latest edition.

In solidarity,

#TeamNPP

Municipal/Local/Judicial Election: November 7, 2023
Last day to register to vote: October 23, 2023
Last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot: October 31, 2023

Help us prepare for the upcoming municipal, judicial, and local elections in 2023!

The New Pennsylvania Project is a 501(c)(4), contributions are not for charitable purposes and are not tax-deductible.

Paid for by the New Pennsylvania Project

 New Pennsylvania Project
PO Box 443
West Chester, PA 19381
United States  

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