Election 2023: 12 Judge Candidates Running In Chesco Primary

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —Tuesday, May 16 is the Pennsylvania primary election.

There are 374,307 registered voters in Chester County, according to the county Voter Services

Videos on election procedures in the Chester County area are available here.

The races include five open seats on the Chester County bench, county, municipal and school boards and special elections in which positions were vacant.

Who is on the ballot?

The candidates for the Democratic primary are available here.
The candidates for the Republican primary are available here.

Judge race

Most judicial candidates cross-file with both parties in the primary. If a candidate wins both the Republican and Democratic nominations, he or she runs unopposed in the general election in November.

There are 12 candidates running for five positions on the Chester County bench. Judges earn an annual salary of $197,119.

Most judicial candidates cross-file with both parties in the primary. If a candidate wins both the Republican and Democratic nominations, he or she runs unopposed in the general election in November.

More information about the candidates is available here.

They are:

• District Attorney Deb Ryan, endorsed by the Democratic party;
• P.J. Redman, endorsed by the Republican party;
• Don Kohler, endorsed by the Republican party;
• Thomas McCabe, endorsed by the Democratic party;
• Judge Nicole Forzato, Easttown Township, endorsed by the Democratic party;
• Andy Rongaus, a prosecutor with county and state government, private attorney, endorsed by the Republican party;
• Sheriff Fredda D. Maddox, East Goshen Township, endorsed by the Democratic party;
• State Rep. Kristine C. Howard, East Whiteland Township;
• Judge Lou Mincarelli, East Brandywine Township, endorsed by the Republican party;
• District Judge Paige Simmons, West Pikeland Township;
• Dave Black, endorsed by the Republican party;
• Sarah B. Black, a public defender, endorsed by the Democratic party.

When To Vote

Polls will be open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where To Vote

If you're planning on voting in person and are not sure where to go to vote, you can find your polling places here.

Drop-Box locations

Chester County has several drop boxes available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Sign and date and declaration on the outer envelope or your vote will not count. These drop boxes are open on Tuesday, May 16:

• Chester County Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester.
• Avon Grove Library, 117 Rosehill Ave.
• Chester County Library, 450 Exton Square Parkway, Coatesville
• Coatesville Area Library, 501 E. Lincoln Highway
• Downingtown Library, 122 Wallace Ave.
• Easttown Library, 720 First Ave, Berwyn.
• Henrietta Hankin Branch, 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs
• Honey Brook Community Library, 687 Compass Road, Honey Brook
• Kennett Library, 216 State St., Kennett Square
• Oxford Library Co., 48 S. St., Oxford.
• Parkesburg Free Library, Parkesburg.
• Phoenixville Public Library, 183 Second Ave.
• Spring City Free Library, 245 Broad St., Spring City.

Voter rights

If you are heading in person to a polling place, it's important to know your rights, and what is and is not legal in your encounters with poll workers.

You are not required to show identification, according to Pennsylvania law, unless you have never voted at that precinct in the past.

Only voters who have never voted at that precinct before are required to show identification, according to Pennsylvania law.

That identification does not have to be photo identification, but it must contain your name and address.

For those who may have limited English language proficiency, the law stipulates that you may bring another individual with you into the voting booth to help out casting your vote.