Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District - By Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland)
What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Election
As the air turns crisp and days grow shorter, the scent of autumn leaves, spiced pumpkin lattes and warm sweaters usher in the excitement of another election season. Of course, between advertisements on television, non-stop social media posts and the popping-up of campaign signs, it is hard to miss the obvious as well. So, I wanted to use this column to answer questions about the 2024 election.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voters to cast ballots in state and federal races, including for the office of President of the United States.
For me, public elections of any kind are a celebration of American principles. Free, fair and secure elections of our public officials were a major benchmark of our nation’s founders. As our Constitution was being drafted, they believed that free people should elect their government’s leaders, rather than a monarchy-style government, which describes many of the countries from which our first settlers left a few years prior.
Participation in public elections is not complicated, though there are a few things to consider to be prepared. First, are you currently registered to vote? If you participated in the last few elections and you have not changed your address, you likely have nothing to worry about.
That said, confirming you are registered to vote is a simple process and can be done on the Pennsylvania Department of State website,
vote.pa.gov. Here, you can review your current voter registration status and if you are not registered, you can submit an online registration form. Keep in mind the deadline to register is Oct. 21.
If you are not going to be within a convenient distance to your polling place on election day, remember that Pennsylvania offers a mail-in voting process. To vote by mail, a voter must first fill out an application for a mail-in ballot. This can also be done in the Pennsylvania Department of State website.
The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29. Once an application for a mail-in ballot has been reviewed by the county election bureau, the ballot is sent and includes thorough instructions on how to complete the process and mail it to the Westmoreland County Election Office. The completed ballot must be received by the county on election day by 8 p.m.
Confusion about mail-in ballot procedures have arisen, related to election groups and advocacy organizations providing applications for a mail-in ballot to potential voters, causing recipients who never sought an application to question why they received it. In some cases, the application is confused for the ballot itself. If you have any questions at all, you may reach the Westmoreland County Election Office by calling 724-830-3150.
In addition to the office of president, the 2024 election cycle includes races for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as races for the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives. Also on the ballot are the state offices of attorney general, auditor general and treasurer.
If you have any questions at all, my staff and I can assist you as well. Remember that my offices are exclusively legislative in their purpose. This means that voter registration or political affiliation is never a factor in the assistance my staff and I provide. If you have questions about the upcoming election or any other topic, reach out to my Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113 or my New Kensington office at 724-472-4102 with any questions.
Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.
We Will Never Forget! - This coming Wednesday marks the 23rd anniversary of one of the worst days in our nation’s history. On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men and women were killed in devastating terrorist attacks in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Pennsylvania, including more than 400 first responders.
Those we lost on Sept. 11 will be honored and remembered in observances all across the country, including one at Pennsylvania’s own Flight 93 Memorial, near the site where one of the four planes hijacked that day crashed. The remembrance program will begin at 9:45 a.m. and will be streamed live at www.youtube.com/Flight93NationalMemorial.
Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications - The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its spring 2025 semester.
The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.
Qualified applicants must be undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information or to apply, visit
pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to
pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1.
Join Me at These Upcoming Events – Below is a list of events scheduled for September that are available to you and your family. Reach out to my Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113 or my New Kensington office at 724-472-4102 with any questions.
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Mobile Shredding Event with co-host Sen. Joe Pittman, Monday, Sept. 16, New Kensington district office,
356 Freeport St., New Kensington, 4-6 p.m. We have partnered with the Westmoreland Food Bank to merge this event with a food drive to help local families. Consider bringing an optional donation of a non-perishable food in a non-glass container.
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Seniors for Safe Driving Class, Tuesday, Sept. 17, Avonmore Senior Center,
458 Railroad St., Avonmore, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register by calling 1-800-559-4880 or going to
seniorsforsafedriving.com.
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Seniors for Safe Driving Class, Thursday, Sept. 19, Murrysville Senior Center,
3091 Carson Ave., Murrysville, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register by calling 1-800-559-4880 or going to
seniorsforsafedriving.com.
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Firearms Safety and Rights Seminar with Firearms Owners Against Crime, Thursday, Sept. 19, Lower Burrell VFW Post 92,
1601 Wildlife Lodge Road in Lower Burrell, 5-8 p.m. To register, call the New Kensington office at 724-472-4102 or the Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113.
Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper