Pennsylvania

Ballot order is critical for candidates. In Pa., it’s determined by luck

Published

10 months ago

March 1, 2024

Ballot order is critical for candidates. In Pa., it’s determined by luck

This story originally appeared on Spotlight PA.

As Sajda Blackwell approached the front of the room, she did a little dance of excitement — a shimmy as she pumped both fists in the air.

“All right, all right,” she said, as the woman standing in front of her shook a green leather bag filled with number tiles in preparation for Blackwell — a candidate for the 10th legislative district in west Philadelphia — to select one.

“Thirty-five, I feel alive,” she sang after pulling out her tile.

This wasn’t a game of chance at the local American Legion outpost. Instead, it was an official function of the Pennsylvania Department of State, held in Harrisburg last week. State House candidates had gathered to draw numbers establishing the order in which they would appear on the upcoming primary ballot.

A tile numbered between 31 and 40 is pulled from the bag, and the lower the number, the higher a given candidate appears on the ballot. The peculiar process, prescribed by the state’s Election Code, is how election officials ensure fairness in selecting who gets the coveted top ballot position.

States have a variety of ways of determining ballot order. Some go alphabetically. Some go by who filed their paperwork first. New Jersey separates candidates by whether they received their party endorsement, leading Andy Kim — a Democratic member of Congress who is running in that state’s U.S. Senate race — to file a lawsuit over the practice. He is running against Tammy Murphy, who as the governor’s wife would benefit from the influence of the top Democrat in the state.

Roughly two dozen state House candidates, some with their families, attended the drawing, which was held in the echoey atrium of the Keystone Building — an open-concept building across from the state Capitol building that sports a helicopter pad and often hosts large events. More than 300 candidates are running for the state House, but the room felt empty, and candidates chatted in groups of two or three as they waited.

Then, the process unfolded: Two state employees operated in tandem, one shaking a bag and the other recording the results after candidates, their proxies, or the department employee drew a two-inch-by-two-inch tile from the bag and held it up for all to see.

Why 31-40? Over the years, the lower-numbered tiles had their corners bent, and much like a blackjack dealer at a casino, the department doesn’t want someone to figure out which tile is which before it is pulled.

“If you listed them alphabetically, that’s not fair. I would come at the end of the alphabet,” said William “Chris” Wyatt, a Republican candidate for State House in York, a south-central county. “By having the lottery, it balances things out.”

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania program overturns 50% of health insurance denials, new data shows

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

Pennsylvania program overturns 50% of health insurance denials, new data shows

However, information about how often individual insurance companies deny coverage, and how many cases are appealed and overturned, is scarce and not publicly reported most of the time.

Insurance denials can lead to delays in care and medical debt. State officials estimate that 1 million people in Pennsylvania have some medical debt from unpaid bills and other charges.

In Pennsylvania, residents can file an appeal with the state’s Independent External Review program after they have already completed an internal appeals process with their health insurer.

If they are still denied coverage, people can then submit their case to the state review process, where independent, third-party reviewers analyze individual claims and give a final determination on whether the insurer’s denial was valid or if it must be overturned.

The review program is open to people who have health insurance through a state health plan, the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and other commercial insurance, including employer-sponsored plans offered at private companies, nonprofits and organizations.

People who get insurance from their employer through self-funded plans, in which the employer or company pays health claims directly rather than through the insurance company, are excluded from using the state review program.

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Pennsylvania

Levittown-Area State Representatives Sworn In – LevittownNow.com

Published

10 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

Levittown-Area State Representatives Sworn In – LevittownNow.com

A sign for the House of Representatives Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. File photo. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

The area’s four state representatives were sworn in for new terms on Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.

The lawmakers took the oath with their peers at the historic legislative building.

Democrats hold a razor-thin majority in the Pennsylvania House and State Rep. Joanna McClinton, a Democrat, was reelected as speaker.

State Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat from Bristol Township, was sworn in today for her eighth two-year term.

In addition to her role as a lawmaker, Davis was reelected as the caucus secretary for the Pennsylvania House Democrats last month. She was first appointed to the leadership position in the 2021-2022 legislative session.

“As caucus secretary, Davis plays a crucial role in supporting the efficient and effective functioning of the House Democratic Caucus,” her office said.

“I am honored to continue serving the people of the Bristol-Levittown area and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Davis said. “With the support of my colleagues, I will work tirelessly to ensure our work in the House is transparent, effective, and focused on improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians. Together, we will push forward meaningful legislation that creates new opportunities, promotes equity, and strengthens communities.”

Davis serves the 141st Legislative District, which is made up of Bristol Borough and Bristol Township.

State Rep. Joe Hogan, a Republican from Middletown Township was sworn in today for his second term.

“It is an honor to be back in Harrisburg to represent the 142nd District,” said Hogan. “I will continue to fight for the common sense measures I fought for in my first term, like supporting working parents, fighting for early childhood education and supporting our schools.”

Hogan serves the 142nd Legislative District, which covers Lower Southampton Township, Langhorne Manor Borough, Langhorne Borough, Penndel Borough and portions of Middletown and Northampton townships.

State Rep. Jim Prokopiak, a Democrat from Falls Township, took the oath for a new term in the Pennsylvania House.

Prokopiak serves the 140th Legislative District that covers Falls Township, Morrisville Borough, Tullytown Borough, and part of Middletown Township.

State Rep. K.C. Tomlinson, a Republican from Bensalem Township, was sworn in the Capitol. She is serving her third full term following a special election in March 2020.

“It continues to be the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of Bensalem and Hulmeville,” said Tomlinson. “I will continue to work tirelessly for my district, find common ground in Harrisburg, and get things done that benefit all Pennsylvanians.”

Tomlinson serves the 18th Legislative District that covers Bensalem Township and Hulmeville Borough.

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