Pennsylvania Primary Election Results: President Biden’s Victory on Penn’s Campus and Voter Turnout Analysis

Pennsylvanians Cast Votes in Primary Election on Penn’s Campus, Biden’s Victory Marred by Write-In Votes

On Tuesday, Pennsylvanians cast their votes in the primary election to determine the candidates who will represent each political party in November’s general election. President Joe Biden’s victory on Penn’s campus was overshadowed by a substantial number of write-in votes.

A total of 575 voters from the Penn community participated in the primary election at three polling locations across campus. The majority of ballots were cast at Houston Hall and the ARCH building.

College first-year student Lucy Rupertus, who served as a volunteer poll worker, emphasized the importance of voter turnout in all elections, not just the presidential race. She highlighted the significance of local government positions being filled as well.

The low voter turnout in this year’s primaries was attributed to Pennsylvania’s primary election regulations, which require voters to be registered with a political party to participate. Unaffiliated or independent voters are unable to take part in the primary, leading to fewer registered voters on Penn’s campus participating in the election.

Despite being the only candidate actively contesting the Democratic presidential primary, President Biden received only 63.7% of the votes cast on Penn’s campus. A significant portion of voters chose to write in a candidate, with activists encouraging the “Uncommitted” movement as a way to express opposition to Biden’s foreign policy.

Former President Donald Trump won Pennsylvania’s Republican presidential primary with a large margin. However, Republican voters on Penn’s campus showed less support for Trump, with some expressing disappointment at the lack of choices on the primary ballot.

In other races, incumbent Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) will face Republican nominee Dave McCormick in the fall, while incumbent Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) is favored to retain his seat in the House of Representatives. The Pennsylvania attorney general race and other state-level races also saw competitive primaries.

Looking ahead to the general election, Executive Director of Penn’s Office of Government and Community Affairs Dawn Maglicco Deitch emphasized the importance of civic engagement across the Penn community. She predicted higher voter turnout on campus for the November election and encouraged students to make their voting plans early.

Overall, the primary election on Penn’s campus showcased a diverse range of candidates and voter engagement, setting the stage for an exciting general election in November.