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Pennsylvania elections, 2012
| Contents |
|---|
| 1 2012 Elections |
| 2 Eligibility to Vote |
| 2.1 Primary election |
| 2.2 General election |
| 3 Voting absentee |
| 3.1 Eligibility |
| 3.2 Deadlines |
| 3.3 Military and overseas voting |
| 4 Voting early |
| 5 See also |
| 6 References |
The state of Pennsylvania held elections in 2012. Below are the dates of note:
- Signature filing deadline: February 14, 2012
- Primary date: April 24, 2012
- General election date: November 6, 2012
| On the 2012 ballot | Click here for all November 6, 2012 Election Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate (1 seat) | 
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Preview Article | |
| U.S. House (18 seats) |
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| State Executives (3 positions) |
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Preview Article | |
| State Senate (25 seats) |
|
Preview Article | |
| State House (203 seats) |
| ||
| Ballot measures (0 measures) | 
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N/A | |
2012 Elections
For election results in the 50 states, see our November 6, 2012 election results page
Elections by type
| U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Bob Casey, Jr. Incumbent |
53.7% | 3,021,364 | |
| Republican | Tom Smith | 44.6% | 2,509,132 | |
| Libertarian | Rayburn Douglas Smith | 1.7% | 96,926 | |
| Total Votes | 5,627,422 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Pennsylvania lost one U.S. House seat from redistricting. Currently, Republicans hold a 13-6 edge in the 19 Congressional districts.
| Members of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania-- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 6 | 5 | |
| Republican Party | 13 | 13 | |
| Total | 19 | 18 | |
There were three state executive positions up for election.
| Attorney General of Pennsylvania General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Kane |
56.1% | 3,125,557 | |
| Republican | David Freed | 41.6% | 2,313,506 | |
| Libertarian | Marakay Rogers | 2.3% | 128,140 | |
| Total Votes | 5,567,203 | |||
| Election Results via Pennsylvania Department of State. | ||||
| Pennsylvania Treasurer General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Rob McCord Incumbent |
52.5% | 2,872,344 | |
| Republican | Diana Irey Vaughan | 44% | 2,405,654 | |
| Libertarian | Patricia Fryman | 3.5% | 190,406 | |
| Total Votes | 5,468,404 | |||
| Election Results via Pennsylvania Department of State. | ||||
| Pennsylvania Auditor General General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Eugene DePasquale |
49.7% | 2,729,565 | |
| Republican | John Maher | 46.4% | 2,548,767 | |
| Libertarian | Betsy Summers | 3.8% | 210,786 | |
| Total Votes | 5,489,118 | |||
| Election Results via Pennsylvania Department of State. | ||||
Heading into the election, Republicans maintained partisan control in the state senate.
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 20 | 23 | |
| Republican Party | 29 | 27 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
Heading into the election, Republicans maintained partisan control in the state house.
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 91 | 93 | |
| Republican Party | 110 | 110 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 203 | 203 | |
Eligibility to Vote
Primary election
- See also: Voting in the 2012 primary elections
Pennsylvania is one of 21 states to use a strictly closed primary system. Voters had to register to vote in the primary by March 25, 2012, which was 30 days before the primary.[1] (Information about registering to vote)
General election
- See also: Voting in the 2012 general elections
The deadline to register to vote is 28 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 was October 9.[2]
Note: Some states have a voter registration deadline 30 days prior to the election, but because this may fall on a weekend and Columbus Day is on Monday, October 8th, have extended the deadline to October 9, 2012.
- Voter ID info
- Residency requirements: Resident of Pennsylvania and the election district at least 30 days before the election[3]
- Same-day registration: None
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee Voting
Eligibility
A voter is eligible to You are eligible to vote absentee in an election if you cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:absentee in an election if he or she cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:
- A person who is or may be in the military service of the United States, regardless of whether at the time of voting the person is present in the election district of residence or in the Commonwealth and regardless of whether he or she is registered to vote.
- A spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying a person in the military service of the United States and who expects on Election Day to be absent from his or her municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
- A member of the Merchant Marine and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying the Merchant Marine, who expect on Election Day to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
- A member of a religious or welfare group attached to and serving with the armed forces and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying him or her, who expect on Election Day to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
- An individual who, because of the elector's duties, occupation or business (including attendance of college in another coutny/state, leaves of absence for teaching, vacations and sabbatical leaves), expects on Election Day to be absent from his/her municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting and the spouse and dependents of such electors who are residing with or accompanying the elector and for that reason also expect to be absent from his/her municipality during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
- A qualified war veteran elector who is bedridden or hospitalized due to illness or physical disability if the elector is absent from the municipality of his residence and unable to attend his/her polling place because of such illness or disability, regardless of whether the elector is registered to vote.
- A person who, because of illness or physical disability, is unable to attend his/her polling place or to operate a voting machine and obtain assistance by distinct and audible statements. (Note: A disabled elector may be placed on a permanently disabled absentee file.)
- A spouse or dependent accompanying a person employed by the Commonwealth or the Federal Government, in the event that the employee's duties, occupation or business on Election Day require him/her to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M).
- A county employee who expects that his Election Day duties relating to the conduct of the election will prevent the employee from voting.
- A person who will not attend a polling place on Election Day because of the observance of a religious holiday.
Deadlines
To vote absentee a request must be received at least seven days prior to the election. The ballot must then be returned by 5pm on the Friday before the election.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
2012 developments
Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Corbett gave an executive order, extending the deadline for receipt of completed absentee by the county Board of Elections to 5 p.m. on Monday, November 5. The extension applies to those counties where the Board of Elections was closed due to Hurricane Sandy.[4]
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Pennsylvania is one of seven states that does not have any form of early voting.
See also
Additional reading
References
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State "Registration Deadlines," Accessed April 19, 2012
- ↑ Vote Pennsylvania "Registration Deadlines" Accessed May 8, 2012
- ↑ Vote Pennsylvania "Voter Registration Requirements" Accessed May 8, 2012
- ↑ The Times Herald, "Gov. Tom Corbett gives executive order to extend completed absentee ballots," November 1, 2012
