I went to my local county committee last week or so, and found out the PA Supreme Court has 3 vacancies this year, One from Justice Joan Orie Melvin's conviction, One from Justice Seamus McCaffery's resignation, and one from a former Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. In Pennsylvania, Supreme Court justices get 10 year terms, followed by a retention vote until they reach retirement age. As always there are important elections, but even more so this time. The sitting members of the court are 2-2. With the 2020 Census coming up, The PA Supreme Court will most likely nominate the 5 member and the deciding vote in redistricting. Republicans in the state legislature will get to nominate two members, Democrats in the state legislature will get to nominate two members. Then they won't agree on the who the 5th member should be. Which they have never have in the past, So the Court will appoint the 5th member and likely the tie breaker in whose maps would get used. Now gerrymandering won't solve all the issues in to take back US house, and PA State legislatures. We can get better maps and have a much more fairer and representative office holders. Currently we have a deficit of 13-5 in house members. President Obama carried the state by 7 points. I just think this election is important and could have long lasting impact, because there is no guarantee when this number of seats will be open again. Also the issues of Voter ID or splitting the electoral votes by congressional district could come up.
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