​The Democrat Women of Mercer County met via Zoom to celebrate the election of Joe Biden as President Elect and to get busy on the next important election: the Georgia Senate races. 
The group took only a few minutes to cheer for Biden, Kamala Harris, and Josh Shapiro, our re-elected Attorney General, before turning to Get-Out-the-Vote efforts for the January 5th runoff election of two Senators in Georgia. DWMC encourages donations and participation for Georgia candidates Ossoff and Warnock for Senate and Fair Fight, which promotes fair voter participation in elections. Go to the DWMC website or Facebook page to see how you can help in these efforts.
DWMC President Kim Powell conveyed profound thanks to all of the Democratic candidates who ran this year and to all of the volunteers who helped them run.
The election went very well with voter turn-out increasing to 75% of registered Mercer County voters compared to 69% in 2016. Thad Hall was lauded for running a responsive, free and fair election.
Because of Covid-19, the DWMC Christmas Banquet was cancelled.
The organization’s website is getting a make-over. Democratwomenmc.org will now offer more information about the group’s mission, current efforts, and the Democratic view of the issues that affect Americans and the world.

​The October meeting of Democrat Women of Mercer County began just west of Philadelphia. Nina Ahmad, candidate for Auditor General, spoke to us from a Back to Blue parade. Dr. Ahmad’s resume (ninaforpa.com) is as impressive as her plans for auditing taxpayer dollars. As our fiscal watchdog, she plans to post commonwealth spending online and to point out how funds could be used more efficiently. Audits inform legislators about how well they are serving all of the people. While Ahmad will suggest more effective spending, only Pennsylvania voters can push legislators to make changes. Ahmad will also form community councils to discuss the effects of state spending locally.
Dr. Ahmad has a long list of endorsements, including her old boss, Barack Obama, and The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board, which wrote, “We believe she would bring a wider perspective, and the ability to not only question spending of state agencies, but how government operates and the priorities it makes.”
Closer to home, Thad Hall, Mercer County Director of Elections, reassured us that all is in order for this election season. Mail-in ballots were sent the week of October 6th. Call his office if you haven’t received your requested ballot by October 16th. Return your ballot ASAP. Be sure to use blue or black ink; seal the ballot in the secrecy envelope and then into the return envelope; fill in, sign, and date the Voter’s Declaration on the back; and drop it in the mail. Alternatively, you can return your ballot in person to the County Board of Elections in the courthouse, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or bring your ballot AND both envelopes to your polling place on November 3rd.  A disabled voter can fill out a form to authorize someone to help them obtain or return a ballot (search “designated agent” at votespa.com).
On Election Day, Hall will update results hourly as each of our 90 precincts report. But, election results may not be clear for a few days. Two thirds of Mercer’s registered Democrats requested a mail-in ballot, which will not begin to be counted until November 4th.
Kristy Gnibus, candidate for Congress, has been busy meeting voters on whistle stop tours throughout district 16. She has a brand new TV spot; more donations will keep it on air. And, she’ll be in Hermitage for a fund-raiser on Friday. To attend, go to the DWMC Facebook page to find a link to RSVP.
Get-Out-The-Vote efforts are going strong. Go to the DWMC Facebook page to get involved in phone banking or text banking from home, distributing voter information (contact free), driving voters to the polls, or being a poll observer on Election Day. Pick up candidate yard signs, pins and stickers on Saturday, October 17th from noon to 3 pm at the gas station next to Panera Bread. Wear a Biden button every day; people smile and say, “I like your button!”

​The August meeting of Democrat Women of Mercer County started with laudatory comments for the new editor of The Herald and the Letters to the Editor in the Saturday edition.
Phil Heasley, candidate for District 8 State Representative, joined the call to share news and plans for his campaign. He was particularly pleased to announce that the AFL-CIO has endorsed his candidacy since his family has been union for generations. Heasley is also endorsed by Planned Parenthood. The AFL-CIO has also endorsed Kristy Gnibus in her bid to represent Congressional District 16.
State House District 8 stretches along I-79 from Lake Arthur in the south to Lake Wilhelm in the north (excluding the Slippery Rock area). Supporters who live in District 8 can request a Heasley campaign sign for their yard at HeasleyforPA.com, and a volunteer will bring a sign to them. Three Heasley for PA billboards are going up in prime locations, and the campaign is also looking for supporters who own frontage on main roads who would welcome a 4’ by 4’ sign. On Sunday, August 30, his campaign hopes to hold a “Meat and Greet” BBQ at Moraine State Park. They are working out details and rules with park management, but masks and social distancing will be required.
Pick up Joe Biden for President and Kristy Gnibus for Congress yard signs and prepaid Biden pins and bumper stickers on Wednesday, August 12th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Union Hall at 1028 Roemer Blvd. in Farrell. Voter registration and vote-by-mail applications will be available. Members can answer questions about voting, the candidates, and how concerned citizens can volunteer to help ensure a fair and safe election. 
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is looking for volunteer poll workers, poll observers (witnesses at polling places to prevent voter suppression), and canvass observers (watch while absentee/mail-in ballots are counted). This work is essential to ensure that every vote is counted. Join the PA Dems Voter Protection Team at padems.com/2020/01/voter-protection/.
Handwritten postcards are an effective and socially distanced way to reach out to voters in your neighborhood and encourage them to vote. You can purchase your own cards and stamps, or 10 pre-stamped cards from the post office for $3.90, and write to a list of nearby voters provided by DWMC. Contact DWMC through Facebook to get a list of names and addresses and sample messages.   
Mercer Field Organizer LaShana Barnett is looking for more volunteers to help with phone banking. Contact her at [email protected] or (724)851-2915. 
Vote-by-mail is an essential alternative to in-person voting during COVID-19. Mail-in ballot applications must be received by the county election office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Don’t wait; apply online now at votespa.com or call the Mercer County Election Office at (724) 662-7542. Voters should receive their ballots by mid-September. Again, don’t wait to fill it in and send it back, and be very careful to read the rules and follow them completely. 

​Democrat Women of Mercer County members met via Zoom for the July meeting. As a first order of business, they discussed options for meeting in person and decided to continue meeting safely online in the coming months.
DWMC President Kim Powell introduced a special guest to offer some insight into the views and activities of younger voters. Maggie Kelso, a Mercer native, and her sister organized a Black Lives Matter march around the courthouse on June 12th. Twenty-five people chanted, carried signs, and halted to share calls for action and 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence in memory of George Floyd. Kelso told the group that she and her peers were paying attention during their teen years, thinking, “someone should do something to fix this.” Suddenly, she says they realized they were now the people who must do something. She plans to organize small voter registration events in August and September.
Congressional Candidate Kristy Gnibus is campaigning to groups online and earning endorsements from organizations and leaders that believe in her ability to represent the needs of Pennsylvania families in Congress. DWMC voted to send a donation to her campaign. Gnibus for Congress yard signs will be available soon.
The first batch of Biden for President yard signs went like hotcakes when they arrived last month. DWMC will distribute another batch of pre-ordered signs this weekend.
There was much discussion about concern for safe and secure voting in November. Almost all of the events where DWMC promoted voter registration were cancelled due to COVID-19. Phone banking from home is an easy way get out the vote, answer questions about vote-by-mail, and help elect candidates up and down the ballot in 2020.  To get involved, contact LaShana Barnett, the Mercer Field Organizer, at [email protected] or (724) 851-2915. To learn more about vote-by-mail in Pennsylvania, go to votespa.com.
Join Democrat Women of Mercer County, PA on Facebook or at www.democratwomenmc.org

​Due to Covid-19, the May meeting of the Democrat Women of Mercer County was conducted via Zoom with President Kim Powell presiding. Meeting electronically allowed six candidates on the June 2nd ballot to attend from throughout the commonwealth. PA Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills keynoted the proceedings by encouraging creativity in finding new ways to connect with voters, promote voting-by-mail and generate enthusiasm for Democratic candidates. 
 
Four of the candidates for State Auditor General asked for DWMC members’ support:
Dr. Nina Ahmad (www.ninaforpa.com), Philadelphia County,  
State Rep. H. Scott Conklin (www.conklinforpa.com) Centre County
Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb (www.lambforpa.com) Allegheny County
Christina M. Hartman (christinamhartman.com), Lancaster County
 
Kristy Gnibus, vying to unseat incumbent Mike Kelly in the PA-16 Congressional District race spoke to her ability to connect with rural and working-class voters (kristyforcongress.com). Gnibus is a mother, middle school teacher, and a doctoral student in Organizational Leadership at Gannon University.
 
Phil Heasley, is running for State Representative for the 8th district (HeasleyforPA.com). Heasley hopes to bring both his experience as a small business owner in Butler County and the perspective of a younger generation to state government.
 
Powell announced two write-in campaigns. Randon Simmons of Hermitage is asking voters to write in his name by blackening the write-in box for Alternate Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 16th District. Jeff O’Melian of Meadville is running a write-in campaign for PA House District 17. His name was mistakenly printed on the mail-in ballots sent to Crawford County. In order to vote for him, one must blacken the write-in circle and write in his name. If a voter blackens the circle beside his name, the vote will not be counted. Mr. O’Melian explained why this is so, and why he is running for office, on this Facebook page: Elect Jeff O'Melian Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 17.
 
Covid-19 is changing the way Pennsylvanians will vote. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is working to educate voters about voting-by-mail and encouraging them to apply for ballots at votesPA.com. This is the safest way to vote during the pandemic, but the polls will be open. In-person voters must wear masks, practice social distancing, and bring their own black pens to mark their ballots. 
 
If you are interested in encouraging local voters to vote-by-mail, contact LaShana Barnett, PA Dems fieldworker for Mercer County, at [email protected]. If you are interested in joining DWMC, visit Democrat Women of Mercer County, PA on Facebook.