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Many in the Pennsylvania Jewish community may need one of
these before they can participate in this years historic Presidential primary. The
first since 1952 with no clear nominee in either party. |
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Special Dossier: Presidential Primaries
Passover the Pennsylvania Primary?
Next year on Pennsylvania Avenue.
-- Dan Loeb
To us in the Jewish community, April 22 is the first day of chol hamo'ed pesach.
The Pennsylvania primary is scheduled for the first intermediate day of
the Jewish holiday of Passover.
If your Passover Seder plans include travel and you are not sure to return to Pennsylvania
before the April 22 primary, please be sure to vote before you go. While we may
support different candidates in the Presidential election, there is widespread agreement
that this is a historic election whose ramifications will have great impact in Pennsylvania,
throughout the United States, in Israel, and throughout the world. We need to make
our voices heard in this election.
 While most of the states will have voted by Super Tuesday, the battle for the nomination
will probably continue as candidates campaign in state after state trying to pick
up delegates. Conceivably the nominees might be determined on the floor of the Democratic
National Convention (August 25-28) in Denver, Colorado and the Republican National
Convention (September 1-4) in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
Many
criticized Pennsylvania for not joining the 24 other states participating
in "Super Tuesday", February 5, fearing that the Republican and Democratic nominees
would already be determined before Pennsylvanian had the opportunity to cast their
votes. In fact, it is becoming clearer that Super Tuesday
will not decide the nominations after all. With no primaries for a couple
of weeks before or after Pennsylvania, the candidates are likely to focus on the
many delegates at stake in the Keystone state on April 22.
In addition to an important Presidential primary election, candidates are vying for your support up and down the ballot, from precinct captain to U.S. Congressman. For example, in Pennsylvania's 6th district Jim Gerlach squeaked by Lois Murphy in 2004 and again in 2006. Lois Murphy is not on the ballot this year, but four other democrats are contending with each other for the opportunity to take on one of the most vulnerable incumbant Republicans in Congress.
If there is any chance you might not be home to vote in person, please follow the
following instructions:
- Click here to obtain a
Pennsylvania absentee ballot.
- Fill out the application according to the
Department of State instructions. In section A, as "reason for absence" you
may write "Observance of a religious holiday (Passover)."
- Mail or deliver the application to
your County Board of Elections. Here is a selected list of nearby counties. For the
complete list of counties, go to
the PA Department of State Website.
- Bucks County, 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901-4318, (215)348-6163.
- Chester County, 601 Westtown Road, P.O. Box 2747, West Chester, PA 19380-0990, (610)344-6410.
- Delaware County, Government Center Building, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063-2728, (610)891-4659.
- Montgomery County, Courthouse PO Box 311, Airy & Swede
Street, Norristown PA 19404-0311, (610)278-3280.
- Philadelphia County, 520 N Delaware Ave, 5th Floor, Phialdelphia, PA 19123-4295, (215)686-1505.
- The application must be received by the Board of Elections sometime between March
3, 2008 and April 15, 2008. (If an emergency arises after this date, an "emergency
application" may be obtained from the Board of Elections either in person, by mail
or messenger.)
- Call the County Board of Elections if you are not sure they have received your application
or are worried you will not receive your ballot in time. Ballots are sent out as
applications are received.
- Carefully complete the absentee ballot and related material, and return it to your
County Board of Elections. Unless you are
disabled, your ballot must be delivered to the County Board of Elections
either in person or via the U.S. mail. They must receive it by April 18, 2008. (Ballots
from
military servicemen and Americans abroad
have a little more time. They must be postmarked no later than April 21 and received
no later than April 29.)
Note that only registered voters can request an absentee ballot. Anyone who registers
to vote by March 24 may participate in the Pennsylvania primary. (If you are not
yet registered, see the
registration
form and
its
instructions.)
If you know of any Jews in Pennsylvania, please direct them to this article at http://www.pjvoice.com/v32/322105passover.aspx
so that their votes will be counted.
Best wishes from the Philadelphia Jewish Voice for a Happy Passover, and thank you
for participating in the democratic process.
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