Kelsey McGovern, Writer

Many people do not pay attention to elections other than the presidential election every four years. However, voters have a lot of impact within other local or primary elections. The municipal election is on Nov. 4. To register to vote in this election, Pennsylvanians must register to vote by Oct. 20. To apply for a mail-in ballot, voters must do so by Oct. 28.

What Does the Municipal Election Entail?

Registered Pennsylvania voters will be voting for local government representatives on committees such as the borough and city council and township supervisors.

What Am I Voting On?

Voters will be deciding on district attorney, city controller, Pennsylvania Supreme Court judicial retention, judge of the Supreme Court, judge of the Commonwealth Court, judge of the Court of Common Pleas and judge of the Municipal Court.

The district attorney handles investigations and criminal cases, determining who to prosecute. They decide on criminal appeals, criminal charges, and jail and court resources. Voting on the district attorney is important to ensure there is someone to represent how the voter views prosecution. Taxes are also involved because if the resources used here are more expensive, taxpayers will be paying more. The way the voter views public safety and justice reform is also an important reason to vote.

The city controller is responsible for making sure taxpayer money is being used properly, handling financial corruption, approving funds and managing debt. Voting for the city controller is important so voters can trust someone to be honest while making financial decisions so tax dollars are not wasted.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court judicial retention vote allows the voter to decide if a judge should be retained for another term. Supreme Court judges are responsible for upholding constitutional rights, determining criminal cases and more. If the voter believes a judge is underperforming, they can vote to end their term. If judges are voted out, voters will later choose a new judge.

The judge of the Commonwealth Court handles policy issues within state and local governments. This court makes decisions based on government lawsuits and checks state agencies’ actions. This can affect many areas voters should be aware of, like voting laws and workers’ rights.

The judge of the Court of Common Pleas handles more serious criminal cases. This affects how fast cases are solved, bail amounts, custody within families and more.

The judge of the Municipal Court covers minor cases. This court is often the only court that hears an appeal if it does not get passed on to the next level. The voter is responsible for electing someone who upholds justice.

In voting in this election, voters will be able to make a difference on the local stage. Voting in local elections is very important so laws are interpreted in the manner the voter wants. When only focusing on the presidential election, changes that citizens want will not be completely reflected in daily life. By learning about candidates, the voter will understand what each candidate stands for and whether that aligns with their beliefs.