With voter registration closing this Monday, May 5, Pennsylvania's election calendar enters its decisive stretch. The 2025 primary, which will be held on Tuesday, May 20, will allow Democrats and Republicans to choose their candidates for judicial and municipal offices ahead of the November general election.

Although this is a mid-term, non-federal election, the local impact is profound: at stake are everything from city councils and mayoral offices to vacancies in two of the state's most relevant courts - the Commonwealth Court and the Superior Court.

As reported by the website www.spotlightpa.org, in Pennsylvania, the primaries are closed. This means that only people registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote. Those who are registered as independents or belong to other parties will not be able to participate in the selection of candidates, although they may vote in local referendums or special elections if there are any in their jurisdiction.

Those who changed parties after May 5 will not be able to vote under their new party affiliation in these primaries.

Polls will open on Tuesday, May 20 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you are in line before 8:00 a.m., you are eligible to cast your ballot.

If you prefer to vote by mail or are registered to vote absentee, there is still time: the deadline to request a ballot is May 13 at 5:00 p.m., either online or by mail. Mind you, ballots must be received before the polls close on Election Day. Postmarks do not count.

You can check your polling place on the state's official website. If you are a first-time voter or if you have recently moved, you must present valid identification: driver's license, passport, utility bill or student card, among others.

Ballots vary by county and municipality, but statewide, candidates will be elected to:

Commonwealth Court: a court that tries civil cases against state and public agencies. Three candidates are vying for a vacancy: Stella Tsai (Democrat), Matthew Wolford (Republican) and Joshua Prince (Republican).

Superior Court: In charge of appeals in civil, criminal and family cases. There is one vacancy and three candidates: Brandon P. Neuman (Democrat), Maria Battista (Republican) and Ann Marie Wheatcraft (Republican).

Both courts are key to decisions that directly affect citizens, such as public school funding, the handling of vote-by-mail voting or the review of criminal convictions.

In addition, depending on the locality, voters could decide on mayorships, district attorneys, school boards, city councils and other public offices. Some counties, such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Montgomery, will also have local propositions on the ballot.

If you have questions or problems with your ballot, you can track the status of your application or ballot online at the same official voter services portal. You can also contact your county elections office, where it is even possible to hand-deliver the ballot, if you prefer.

Remember: if you received a ballot in the mail but choose to vote in person, you will need to bring the original ballot or be prepared to vote a provisional ballot.

Although primary elections are often overlooked by many, they define much of the local leadership and judicial system in Pennsylvania. Being informed, exercising your right to vote and knowing the candidates is key to a functioning democracy from the neighborhood to the courthouse.