A bill to change the date of next year’s primary election has passed the State Senate.
By a 45-2 vote, Senate Bill 224 received overwhelming support from senators. The bill proposes to move the primary election for the 2024 year up five weeks from April 23 to March 19th. While this would put the state in with primary elections from Ohio, Florida, Kansas, Illinois and Arizona, it would still come after several other primaries in key states, including California, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
Two reasons were given as positives for the change in date. One, according to supporters, is that the state voters will be given more of a say when it comes to selecting presidential nominees, especially since Pennsylvania is being seen as a battleground state for the president’s race. The other is to make sure that the primary election does not fall on the first day of the Jewish Holiday of Passover.
Senator Joe Pittman was in the majority of those who approved the bill. It now heads to the State House of Representatives, who will start session next week.
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