Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
07/21/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/21/2025 14:44
Cooper Proposal Seeks to Eliminate Hometown Bias in Elections
Jul. 21, 2025
HARRISBURG -Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) is proposing legislation that aims to update and modernize the election process by eliminating the practice of displaying the counties or municipalities of residence on primary ballots.
"Including a candidate's residence on a primary ballot provides little, if any, meaningful information. It offers no insight into a candidate's qualifications, policy positions or vision for the office they seek," Cooper said. "In today's interconnected world, where information about candidates is readily available through campaign websites, debates, social media and public forums, irrelevant geographical information potentially influences voters out of allegiance to one community or dislike for another."
Current election law requires the listing of the home county or municipality of most primary candidates, except for president of the United States or delegates to national party conventions and on only primary ballots. The law does not apply to candidates in municipal elections, and nor does it apply to any candidate in general elections.
Cooper has circulated a memo proposing the idea to members of the House of Representatives, inviting them to serve as co-sponsors of the legislation.
"Inconsistencies in the current law highlight the need for a change. Voters make informed choices in general elections without the listing of candidates' hometowns; they can do the same in primaries," Cooper said. "This bill is about streamlining the balloting process, reducing the potential for bias, and ensuring that candidates are elected based on what they bring to the table, instead of where they live."
Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
[email protected]
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper
"Including a candidate's residence on a primary ballot provides little, if any, meaningful information. It offers no insight into a candidate's qualifications, policy positions or vision for the office they seek," Cooper said. "In today's interconnected world, where information about candidates is readily available through campaign websites, debates, social media and public forums, irrelevant geographical information potentially influences voters out of allegiance to one community or dislike for another."
Current election law requires the listing of the home county or municipality of most primary candidates, except for president of the United States or delegates to national party conventions and on only primary ballots. The law does not apply to candidates in municipal elections, and nor does it apply to any candidate in general elections.
Cooper has circulated a memo proposing the idea to members of the House of Representatives, inviting them to serve as co-sponsors of the legislation.
"Inconsistencies in the current law highlight the need for a change. Voters make informed choices in general elections without the listing of candidates' hometowns; they can do the same in primaries," Cooper said. "This bill is about streamlining the balloting process, reducing the potential for bias, and ensuring that candidates are elected based on what they bring to the table, instead of where they live."
Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
[email protected]
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on July 21, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 21, 2025 at 20:45 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]