Who is on the

Before you explore, check out these
FAQs

What is a Primary Election?

The Primary Election is an election by the political parties to nominate their candidates for the General Election ballot. No one is elected in a Primary election; candidates are nominated. In order to win a political party nomination, the candidate must receive more votes than anyone else in his/her party for that race. In Pennsylvania, the 2023 Primary Election will be on Tuesday, May 16.

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Can I vote for candidates from both parties in the Primary?

No. You can only vote to nominate candidates that match the party you are registered to vote under. If you are unsure what party you are affiliated with, you can check your voter registration status here. To change your party, complete the voter registration application by May 1.

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I am registered as an Independent. Can I vote in the Primary?

No. Pennsylvania has closed primary elections, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates from those parties. To change your party, complete the voter registration application by May 1.

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How do I know where to vote?

The Voting Ward you live in determines your polling place. You can quickly look up your polling place using this Search Tool. On the County's website you can view Voting Ward Maps by municipality.

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What if a position had no candidates file a petition for nomination?

If there are no candidates listed as running for an open position, there are two ways individuals can still run for that position. 

1) Someone registered as an Independent or with a Minor Political Party (ie. Libertarian, Green, etc.) may file a nomination paper to appear on the ballot in November. For more information about running for office as an Independent or Minor Political Party candidate, contact the Commissioners' Office/Board of Elections at jcbyers@franklincountypa.gov or 717-261-3810.

2) Individuals can run a write-in campaign for one or both parties. To win a write-in campaign in the Primary Election, you must receive the majority of votes overall for that party and meet the minimum requirement of at least 10 votes. Your name must be written exactly the same on all ballots to count (Ex: Jon Doe and John Doe would be counted as separate write-in candidates). It is recommended that write-in candidates provide a card/hand-out with their name clearly visible asking voters to write the candidate name exactly how it appears. NOTE: Write-in candidates can run for any position, not just those without candidates listed on the ballot. Historically, write-in candidates have low odds to win against candidates whose name appears on the ballot.

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About the Franklin Votes candidate listing...

All candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. The candidate's party affiliation is listed in parenthesis after their name; D for Democrat, R for Republican, and I for Independent (though Independents will not appear on Primary ballots).

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Why do some names have D & R next to them?

Some positions, including School Board Directors and Judges, allow candidates to cross-file. This means they have the option to file as a candidate for both the Democratic and Republican parties. If they cross-filed, they will appear on both ballots for the Primary. 

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Why do some names link to more information?

Franklin Votes sent a letter to each candidate that submitted petitions for nomination, inviting them to share their candidate information for our website. If the candidate submitted information, it is linked to from their name. We invite all candidates to submit information using this form.