Elections follow a certain rhythm.
Presidential years are followed by municipal years where the ballots are filled with local, school board and county races. Then there are the midterms, in which state and federal lawmakers are elected. In Pennsylvania, that’s also a gubernatorial year. Then it goes back to more local offices in the fourth year of the rotation before cycling back to a presidential election.
Those years when the presidency dominates the news always result in larger turnout. The number who participated in the 2024 election topped 9 million in Pennsylvania, with 77.1% of registered voters taking part. It was the largest percentage since 1992, when more than 82% of registered voters cast a ballot.
The primaries are always lower, even for presidential years. And that’s unfortunate.
The primaries are when the parties pick who they will put forward for the general election in the fall. In Pennsylvania, the presidential primaries can be less of a draw because the candidates usually are weeded out in states that go to the polls earlier.
But off-year primaries can see precincts all dressed up for a party that doesn’t happen. Turnout can be under 25%.
The problem with that is how many local races actually are decided in the primary.
The primary, for all intents and purposes, was where Ed Gainey became Pittsburgh’s mayor in 2021. Was there a general election? Yes. But Pittsburgh hasn’t seen a Republican mayor since 1934. That could change this year as both parties have challengers, but history tells us the decision was likely to be made in May, not November.
This is just as true this year and why today’s primary is more important than a 25% turnout.
Pennsylvania is a swing state but not a purple state. It’s a patchwork of Democratic blue like Allegheny County and Republican red like Westmoreland.
There are no Democrats running for Westmoreland County offices, but there still are municipal races on the ballot. There also are more Republicans running in Allegheny County this year. This means that showing up and making your voice heard means more today than in any other primary. It also means that Republicans can have more of a say in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh politics today than they have had in decades.
Every election matters. Every vote matters.
But you have to show up. If you have not already done so by casting a mail-in ballot, show up at your polling place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. today and make your voice heard.
