You’ve probably seen or heard about the election mailers across Pennsylvania about the upcoming state Supreme Court retention elections. They look official. They cite court cases. Some even mention trusted civic organizations like the League of Women Voters.
Don’t fall for it.
These mailers are political advertisements funded by interest groups and political action committees, not publicly accountable organizations. They want to influence how you vote. Their messages may be legal. Yet, they are misleading, cherry-pick facts and frame court decisions to serve a specific political goal rather than the public good. This election, as every election, deserves your time, your attention, and your vote.
Many think judicial races don’t matter much. In truth, the judges we elect can shape nearly every part of our daily life: the kinds of schools our children can attend, the safety of our communities, and the fairness of our elections. State and county judges rule on issues that affect public health, reproductive rights, gun safety, education funding, and environmental protection. They decide whether your town can hold corporations accountable for pollution, whether legislative maps are fair, and how state laws are applied when civil rights are at stake. The course of these decisions are affected by judicial elections. Judges interpret existing law to understand how lives, livelihoods, or constitutional rights hang in the balance.
READ: How Pennsylvania Judges Facing Retention Ruled on Key Election Cases
Not only is this election important, but YOUR vote carries weight. Unlike national races, judicial contests can be decided by a handful of votes. In Pennsylvania, local judicial and municipal elections have been decided by fewer than 20 ballots. Your vote can tip the balance. Special interest groups know how narrow this margin could be. This is why they are sending out mailers that distort the facts and are trying so hard to swing the results in their favor. These special-interest groups and political action committees are spending millions to influence how Pennsylvanians think about these judicial races. Don’t fall for it.
You can rise above all this noise. It is more important than ever to seek out trusted, nonpartisan information and make an informed choice. Before you mark your mail-in ballot or go to the polls, take a moment to dig a little deeper. Visit trusted, nonpartisan sources like Vote411.org where candidates answer the same questions in their own words. Visit the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s website to find vetted and trusted recommendations based on experience and competency, not on party. Read multiple news outlets. If you see a mailer, check who funded it and ask why. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
READ: The Makeup of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Hangs in the Balance in November. Here’s What’s at Stake
No matter your political views, protect your voice. Exercise your right to vote and make an informed choice. Local and state elections decide what kind of communities we live in: fair, responsive, and representative or shaped by the loudest and wealthiest voices. Don’t fall for it.
Know the facts so that you can vote your real values. Your vote matters, this year, and every year. When you learn before you vote, you strengthen not just your community but democracy itself.
