This year is what would commonly be referred to as an off-year election. That means we’re not electing a president or governor or even state and federal legislators.

However, mayors, county commissioners, judges and school board members are being elected.

Historically, a school board race would not get voters enthused, but issues being debated at school board meetings, like books in school libraries or in classrooms are being questioned, how history is being taught as it relates to race and several issues surrounding LGBTQ students have made school board meetings the center of attention in many communities.

But how do voters know where these candidates stand on issues or even how to find out?

Spotlight PA reporter Stephen Caruso recently wrote about this very issue and joined us on The Spark Friday.

How can voters learn about candidates for school board,"I think one of the first things to do is go to social media. I mean, in particular, I think most candidates these days have Facebook pages. I mean, I know when I'm trying to vet someone who I've never written about before, who I know nothing about, whether I'm trying to vote in a Harrisburg election, I am a registered voter here, or if I'm a as a reporter trying to figure out information, look up their Facebook, scroll through the last, like, you know, week or so a post, see what they've posted about go to their about page on that There's often going to be they make list like you know some of their bio though they might list who's endorsing them as we mentioned like you know the other thing that's really important, too, if you're able to get your hands on but it's a lot harder with local races is campaign finance information. When once you see somebody who's being funded, want to see where someone's getting their funding, you have a better sense of what their values are, particularly in politics. Campaigns don't run themselves. It is, though, admittedly, that that is hard for local races. These these races usually have to go through a county website. I believe Dauphin County puts theirs up online. I believe that other counties of Erie, Allegheny, Philadelphia. But, so it's sometimes it's hard, but it's not You may have to go down to an office. And the fact matter is, I understand who has time to do that in the middle of the busy lives. But, I would say, like those are the two main things. There's a lot to say about social media, but most candidates will set up those pages or, you know, you could go Google for a website, Google for something that gives you at least some of how they're going described themselves. You might near read between the lines a little bit, but, you know, I think as long as you go into how someone presents themself on the Internet with that mindset of this is this is propaganda. And I don't mean that in a good or bad way, but like this is how they want to present themselves."

How to learn more about candidates for judge,"What you basically have are endorsements from interest groups who are going to interview these candidates, usually in private meetings with their members, and then just issue off of maybe what they might answer privately. You know, they might say something a little different in a private conversation. They're going to put on a billboard, you know, like so unions, gun rights groups, abortion groups, you know, well, Planned Parenthood or the pro-life federation, like all these groups, pro-business groups, all of them will issue endorsements in these races. So those are kind of meant to be like flags of like, if you care about this issue, this group try to throw their weight behind it. I think they carry even more power in a judicial race because of what you said. It's not you know, the candidates aren't saying I'm going to rule with labor every time. But if they get the endorsement of the state AFL-CIO, you might start to think differently about it. And there's another option which are which have some of their own problems to them. But there are the bar recommendations now are bar associations."

This year is what would commonly be referred to as an off-year election. That means we’re not electing a president or governor or even state and federal legislators.
However, mayors, county commissioners, judges and school board members are being elected.
Historically, a school board race would not get voters enthused, but issues being debated at school board meetings, like books in school libraries or in classrooms are being questioned, how history is being taught as it relates to race and several issues surrounding LGBTQ students have made school board meetings the center of attention in many communities.
But how do voters know where these candidates stand on issues or even how to find out?
<a href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/04/pa-primary-election-2023-candidates-running-mayor-council-judge-vetting-guide/">Spotlight PA reporter Stephen Caruso recently wrote about this very issue</a> and joined us on The Spark Friday.
How can voters learn about candidates for school board,"I think one of the first things to do is go to social media. I mean, in particular, I think most candidates these days have Facebook pages. I mean, I know when I'm trying to vet someone who I've never written about before, who I know nothing about, whether I'm trying to vote in a Harrisburg election, I am a registered voter here, or if I'm a as a reporter trying to figure out information, look up their Facebook, scroll through the last, like, you know, week or so a post, see what they've posted about go to their about page on that There's often going to be they make list like you know some of their bio though they might list who's endorsing them as we mentioned like you know the other thing that's really important, too, if you're able to get your hands on but it's a lot harder with local races is campaign finance information. When once you see somebody who's being funded, want to see where someone's getting their funding, you have a better sense of what their values are, particularly in politics. Campaigns don't run themselves. It is, though, admittedly, that that is hard for local races. These these races usually have to go through a county website. I believe Dauphin County puts theirs up online. I believe that other counties of Erie, Allegheny, Philadelphia. But, so it's sometimes it's hard, but it's not You may have to go down to an office. And the fact matter is, I understand who has time to do that in the middle of the busy lives. But, I would say, like those are the two main things. There's a lot to say about social media, but most candidates will set up those pages or, you know, you could go Google for a website, Google for something that gives you at least some of how they're going described themselves. You might near read between the lines a little bit, but, you know, I think as long as you go into how someone presents themself on the Internet with that mindset of this is this is propaganda. And I don't mean that in a good or bad way, but like this is how they want to present themselves."
How to learn more about candidates for judge,"What you basically have are endorsements from interest groups who are going to interview these candidates, usually in private meetings with their members, and then just issue off of maybe what they might answer privately. You know, they might say something a little different in a private conversation. They're going to put on a billboard, you know, like so unions, gun rights groups, abortion groups, you know, well, Planned Parenthood or the pro-life federation, like all these groups, pro-business groups, all of them will issue endorsements in these races. So those are kind of meant to be like flags of like, if you care about this issue, this group try to throw their weight behind it. I think they carry even more power in a judicial race because of what you said. It's not you know, the candidates aren't saying I'm going to rule with labor every time. But if they get the endorsement of the state AFL-CIO, you might start to think differently about it. And there's another option which are which have some of their own problems to them. But there are the bar recommendations now are bar associations."

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

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