A higher proportion of write-in votes on the Democratic political party line than in the Democratic presidential primary for the state’s largest Democrat counties, which may indicate a higher percentage of write-in votes than the Republican presidential primary for the state’s largest Democratic counties. This could be a sign of protest votes being cast against President . Joe Biden.
Progressive administrators mounted a campaign urging voters to read in “uncommitted” as a protest vote over Biden’s continued aid to , Israel , in its monthslong battle against , Hamas , that has claimed tens of thousands of Arab life. Uncommitted PA, a class known as Uncommitted PA, hoped to convey a message to Biden in a crucial swing state that he will have in November.
But unlike , Michigan , and some other states,  , Pennsylvania , does n’t offer an “uncommitted” option on the ballot so it’s impossible to know what voters wrote in as of Wednesday. It might not be crystal clear for several days.
The rise in write-in seats may indicate a growing sense of voter dissatisfaction with the choices at the top of the vote.
In the six , Pennsylvania , regions with the most registered , Democrats, the number of compose- in votes counted in Tuesday’s Democrat presidential primary surpassed the 2020 numbers, as of evening Wednesday.
Despite much fewer votes general in this main election, about 36, 000 write- ins have been counted in , Philadelphia,  , Montgomery,  , Bucks,  , Chester,  , Delaware, and , Allegheny , counties, compared to only 13, 000 in 2020 when there was no protest vote organized.
Philadelphia , had five times the number of write- in votes for the Democratic nominee for president as it did in 2020. With about 87 % of the expected vote in, the total number of votes counted in Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary in , Philadelphia , was half the total number recorded in 2020.
Determining how many of those voters wrote in “uncommitted”, as opposed to other names, like Mickey Mouse, or Gritty, is unclear. Typically, write- in responses can take days or weeks for counties to report.
The campaign by Uncommitted Pennsylvania, which was celebrating its efforts Tuesday night, may be responsible for the spike in write-ins. The group had set a goal of getting 40, 000′ uncommitted’ votes statewide. Biden won , Pennsylvania , by a little more than 80, 000 votes in 2020.
” We have been overjoyed by our volunteers ‘ enthusiasm and dedication, who have either contacted voters directly through phone and text banking or through the polls today. Uncommitted PA organizer , Shalah Ramadan , said. ” Today’s efforts are a testament to the growing support for the Uncommitted anti- war movement in , the United States , and growing desire for meaningful action by our President to change course in , Gaza”.
Another organization, Abandon Biden, had encouraged voters to use the phrase” No Joe” as a write- in vote to protest Biden’s stance on , Gaza.
Pennsylvania , voters overall have split over the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in the , Middle East.
In an , April Fox News , poll, 24 % of likely voters said they thought the administration was too supportive of the Israelis and 23 % said it was too supportive of the Palestinians. The largest number, 40 %, said Biden’s approach was about right.  , Democrats , were more likely than , Republicans , to think the , White House , is too supportive of the Israelis.
At the polls in , Northwest Philadelphia , on Tuesday,  , Rachel Elfenbein, who voted for Biden in 2020, said she was inspired by how the “uncommitted” vote won two Democratic delegates in , Michigan, back in February.
” It’s time for him to shift policies”, Elfenbein said of Biden. Pennsylvania is a swing state, and we can use our power as voters to express to him how disappointed we are with his continuing support of this war.
Still, Elfenbein said if it comes down to Biden or Trump in the November elections, she’ll back Biden.
In West Philly, Tea Jackson, 40, said she voted uncommitted because she’s “tired of the lesser of two evils”.
” It’s definitely to send a message”, said Jackson, who is considering voting for a third party in November.
Another uncommitted voter,  , Ripley Shultz, 30, said she did n’t see much of a difference between the Biden and Trump presidencies, noting she felt both failed to support new immigrants.
At least one Democratic elected official hinted that he voted “uncommitted” in the primary.
State Sen.  , Nikil Saval , said at his , Arch Street Presbyterian Church , polling station on Tuesday that he was” committed to defeating Trump”. However, he said he would not directly respond if he voted for Biden.
He claimed that changing his course on Gaza and increasing his domestic focus on climate, education, and affordable housing would improve his standing with young and progressive voters. He called it “hugely important”, to defeat Trump in November.
With six months until the general election, there were also some signs of fractures among , Republican Party , voters in Tuesday’s primary.
Former Republican presidential candidate , Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race in March, still received a sizable number of votes in , Pennsylvania, particularly in the state’s collar counties.
With about 85 % of the vote reported, Haley had received a quarter of all Republican votes for president in , Bucks County, 38 % of the vote in , Chester, 42 % in , Delaware County, and 45 % in , Montgomery County.
Statewide, without all results counted, she had about 17 % of Republican primary votes.
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( c ) 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer
Distributed by , Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
