News for Democrats in Upper Perkiomen Valley

As always, fall is a busy time, when people start paying closer attention to political news as the November election grows closer, and opportunities for local political action increases.

While it is true that the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club has gone dormant (more on that in an upcoming post), many, if not all, of the same people will be involved in the same activities, and welcoming all local democrats to be part of the process!

The Upper Perkiomen Area 2 Democratic Committee (the local Democratic political party) has big plans for this fall, including hosting our Montgomery County (Democratic) Commissioners, Val Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence tomorrow, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at their scheduled monthly meeting, to which all democrats are invited. Their meetings are held at Open Link Senior Center, 517 Jefferson Street, East Greenville, PA, from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

For nearly twenty years, the UPDC had a voter registration and information table at Community Day on the first Saturday in September in East Greenville. A few years ago, the Upper Perkiomen Area 2 Democrats (UP Area 2 Democratic Committee) began also offering information on voter registration, absentee ballot request forms, and information about candidates and local party activities – last year their table was right across the street from the UPDC table! Rather than duplicate efforts, this voter registration and information effort will now be organized by the UP Area 2 Democrats. Stop by and say hello (or volunteer to help out for an hour or two – contact Area 2 Leader Elaine Hannock at area2dems@gmail.com if you can  help out on Saturday, September 7, 2019).

Over the last few years, both the UPDC and the UP Area 2 Democrats have paraded one after another down Main Street in the annual Upper Perkiomen Halloween Parade. It is our understanding that the Area 2 Democratic Committee  will continue this tradition of representing Democrats in our community in the parade.

While the presidential election is still a year away, the 2019 November election is important – among other decisions to be made on the ballot this fall, 5 out of 9 school board seats are up for election this year!

Stay informed, stay involved, and vote!

Voter Registration/Absentee Ballots

Weather permitting, the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club will once more be hosting a voter registration and absentee ballot request information table at tomorrow’s East Greenville Community Day (Saturday, September 8th, 2018 – Main Street, East Greenville, PA). We will have forms for voter registration and for requesting absentee ballots.

September 17th is the first day to apply for an absentee ballot in Pennsylvania (and while applications are available online, the form must be printed and mailed to the County Courthouse address found on the online form). While officially an absentee ballot request form may be mailed out as late as the week before the election, since the completed ballot must arrive at the Court House by the Friday before the election (November 6, 2018), to insure that one’s vote is counted one should mail one’s ballot at least a week before the election (and earlier is better).

Voter registration closes on October 9, 2018 (because October 8th is a holiday) – that means the form must arrive at the county seat by that date. One can register to vote online!

Check your voter registration online, to be sure that you haven’t been taken off the rolls for any reason or by error!

Election day is Tuesday, November 6, 2018; polls are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

2018 PA Democratic Candidates

U.S. Senate – Bob Casey

U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District (which now includes all of Upper Perkiomen Valley) – Madeleine Dean

Governor – Tom Wolf

Lt. Governor – John Fetterman

State Senate, 24th District – Linda Fields

State Representative, 131st District – Andy Lee

State Representative, 147th District (Green Lane and Marlborough Township) – Josh Camson

County Commissioners in Pennsburg on May 30, 2018

This Wednesday, May 30, 2018, the public is invited to listen to and speak with our Montgomery County Commissioners (Dr. Valerie Akoosh, Kenneth Lawrence, Jr., and Joseph Gale) at 7 p.m., at the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA Multipurpose Room, 1399 Quakertown Road, Pennsburg, PA.

For the sixth year in a row, the Montgomery County Commissioners are taking their message on the road. Constituents are encouraged to attend a “Conversations with Commissioners” town hall event to discuss the issues important in their communities.

County Commissioners Arkoosh and Lawrence in Upper Perk – Monday, March 20th

Montgomery County Commissioners Arkoosh and Lawrence (both Democrats) will be attending the Area 2 Upper Perk Democratic Committee Meeting this evening, Monday, March 20, 2017 at the Upper Perk Education Center,  2229 E Buck Rd, Pennsburg, PA. Democratic candidates for local and county offices will also be in attendance, and speaking briefly. There will also be discussion about upcoming events including a training events for Getting Out the Vote, outreach, poll volunteers (and those considering volunteering at the polls), social action, and more.

The doors open at 7:15 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is open to all Democrats!

Correction…

In the previous blog post, Thank You, I wrote that the majority of voters wanted something else. While that may be true for down ticket races, it turns out that overall, Hillary Clinton was (is) the popular choice, having received more votes than Donald Trump; as votes (primarily absentee and provisional ballots) continue to be counted, her lead continues to grow. She is currently up by 700,000 nationally, and that number continues to grow. It will not, however, change the electoral vote count.

In Pennsylvania, the current count has her losing the state by 68,000 votes (out of slightly over five and a half million votes cast in PA). Just FYI, in Montgomery County alone, some 17,000 absentee ballots may never have been received by those who requested them.

 

 

Deadline Extended for Absentee Ballots in Montgomery County, PA

The deadline for absentee ballots to arrive at the Court House in Norristown for Montgomery County voters has been extended four days in Montgomery County for this year’s November 8th election. A Montgomery County judge has extended the deadline for absentee ballots until 8 p.m. on Tuesday after complaints from many who requested an absentee ballot either didn’t get one, or waited longer than usual.

“With thousands of ballots outstanding and complaints pouring in, a Montgomery County judge on Thursday granted a petition to extend by four days the deadline for returning absentee ballots.

“I guess we run the risk that 17,000 people could be disenfranchised unless there’s some extension,” Senior Judge Bernard Moore said after a hearing in Norristown.”

Bill Clinton at Montgomery County Community College on Tuesday!

Doors are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. for the 3 p.m. public event where President Bill Clinton will be speaking about Hillary Clinton’s economic plans and vision, on Tuesday, October 18, 2016. You may RSVP for this free event  at the Hillary Clinton website. Montgomery Community College’s Central Campus located at 350 Dekalb Pike in Blue Bell.

See and hear President Bill Clinton at a public event in Montgomery County, President Clinton will lay out the high stakes of November’s election for Pennsylvania families and highlight Hillary Clinton’s vision for an America that is stronger together, with an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

County Commissioners in Upper Perk

Montgomery County Commissioners Josh Shapiro, Val Arkoosh and Joseph Gale are holding a town hall meeting in the Upper Perkiomen Valley on Thursday, May 12, 2016. This is one of six “Conversations with the Commissioners” taking place around the county this spring.

The event begins at 7:00pm at the Upper Perkiomen Education Center in the Multipurpose Room; 2229 East Buck Road Pennsburg, PA 18073.

PA Primary Election Results

Here are the winning candidates in the April 26, 2016 Primary Election in Pennsylvania

President of the United States: Hillary Clinton
(Bernie Sanders did win many of the towns and townships in the Upper Perkiomen Valley, although not Montgomery County or the state)

U.S. Senate:  Katie McGinty  

Representative in Congress (6):  Mike Parrish 

Representative in Congress (8): Steve Santarsiero

Attorney General: Josh Shapiro   

PA House District 147: Rachel Hendricks

We are still waiting for confirmation that Joanne Jackson received enough write-in votes to appear on the ballot in November for State Representative for District 131.

50.22 % (130,474) of registered Democrats in Montgomery County turned out to vote in yesterday’s primary election.

42.15% (109,106) of registered Republicans in Montgomery County turned out to vote in yesterday’s primary election.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered over the course of the primary election and at the polls on Tuesday. After a brief rest, we’ll get started on preparing for the fall election.

Thanks to everyone who turned out to vote – see you in November!

Primary Election Information

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 26, 2016 is the Pennsylvania Primary Election. Only registered democrats may vote in the Democratic Primary Election. Polls are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. If you are line to vote before 8 p.m., you must be allowed to vote even if you don’t get to the voting booth until after 8 p.m. due to delays and long lines.

Check your registration.

Check your polling place.

Democratic Candidates for PA Primary Election.

Delegates will be listed on the ballot. Delegates to the Democratic National Committee are committed to candidates and that commitment is listed on the ballot (so read the fine print when you are voting, so that you vote for the delegates who are supporting your choice for the Democratic Party nominee for President).

See sample ballot for your town or township here (select voting district in left column on page).

WARNING – Justin Simmons and Dan Coyle are BOTH Republicans, attempting to get on the Democratic ticket for PA State Representative in District 131 via write-ins. Justin Simmons is the current Republican incumbent in the PA State House. Joanne Jackson is the only Democrat running for State Representative in District 131. 

Please write in Joanne Jackson, for State Representative on election day, Tuesday, April 26th. Upper Perk voters in PA House District 131 live in; East Greenville, Pennsburg, Red Hill, Hereford, UH1, UH2, and UH3

Volunteers are always welcome, and needed, on election day. Please contact Elaine Hannock if you are able and willing to spend an hour, or several hours, at the local polls on election day.