Election Night Statement
On November 5, 2024, by Amy Widestrom, Executive Director, LWVPA, and Susan Gobreski, President, LWVPA
Today, we celebrate the commitment and energy shown by Pennsylvania voters. Thank you for turning out, making your voices heard, and standing up for democracy. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the poll workers, election officials, election observers, postal workers, and countless volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to power this election. Their tireless work is the backbone of our democratic process.
In this election, we witnessed remarkable levels of engagement. Some polling places in Philadelphia surpassed their 2020 turnout numbers by early afternoon, and lines at polling places near college campuses were long all afternoon and into the evening, suggesting high energy among young voters. This level of engagement is a testament to the commitment of voters across the Commonwealth to ensure that their voices play a role in shaping the future of Pennsylvania and the nation, and is a testament to nonpartisan organizations like the League of Women of PA (LWVPA) who have worked tirelessly to register, mobilize, and empower voters. "Today, we witnessed an inspiring commitment from Pennsylvanians to make their voices heard. The remarkable turnout at polling stations across Philadelphia and the energetic lines near college campuses reflect a powerful dedication among voters—especially young voters — to participate actively in our democracy,” said Amy Widestrom, Executive Director of the LWVPA.
As we wait for results, we want to remind everyone that patience is part of the democratic process. Election officials are working diligently to ensure every ballot is counted, which means taking the time needed to ensure accuracy. An accurate count of ballots is far more important than a quick one. Results in Pennsylvania won’t be available on election night, and that’s okay — it’s a sign that our processes are working and election administrators are carefully counting each vote. Unfortunately, there may be some bad actors who try to undermine confidence by spreading disinformation. Stay informed, be cautious of false claims, and remember that our election officials have built robust systems to ensure security and accuracy. “We have good reasons to be confident in the systems that safeguard our elections,” said Susan Gobreski, President of the LWVPA. “They are designed to detect problems, identify errors, resolve issues that arise, and revise to prevent future problems. Voting infrastructure has become more secure and transparent, not less.”
Today, we celebrate our democracy. Every election is an opportunity for us to come together and shape our shared future. Let's take a moment to reflect on this power and privilege, and to honor our democracy, strengthened by every single vote.
You can visit palwv.org or VOTE411.org for updates and results from each state.