How does local government work in Pennsylvania?

#Counties, municipalities and school districts

Pennsylvania has 67 counties, sorted into 9 classes by population. Inside them are 2,555 municipalities, according to the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development (March 2026). Each municipality is a city, a borough, a township or the state’s one town, Bloomsburg. The state also has 500 school districts, so a district often covers several municipalities. Counties and municipalities can adopt home rule charters that change how they are run. The state counts 110 home rule jurisdictions.

#Cities, boroughs and townships

• Cities (56): Philadelphia is the only first-class city, Pittsburgh is second class, Scranton is second class A, and 53 cities are third class. A city mayor’s powers depend on its charter or form of government.
• Boroughs (953): voters elect a council and a mayor, each for 4-year terms. The mayor directs the police and can veto ordinances.
• Second-class townships (1,452): a board of 3 or 5 supervisors, elected for 6-year terms, both makes and carries out township policy.
• First-class townships (93): 5 to 15 commissioners serve 4-year terms, elected at large or by ward.

#County officers

The state constitution lists the elected county officers: commissioners, controllers or auditors, district attorneys, treasurers, sheriffs, registers of wills, recorders of deeds, prothonotaries and clerks of the courts. They serve 4-year terms and are chosen at municipal elections, and state law adds offices such as coroner. Counties without a home rule charter or optional plan elect 3 commissioners, and each voter may vote for only 2 of them. Public defenders are appointed rather than elected. Home rule counties can set up a different structure. In Philadelphia, the county offices were abolished and the city performs the county’s work.

#Judges, magistrates and constables

Pennsylvania elects its judges, and judges of the statewide appeals courts and of the courts of common pleas in its 60 judicial districts serve 10-year terms. After a first election, they can keep their seats through a yes-or-no retention vote with no party label. Magisterial district judges serve 6-year terms and must win a regular election each time. They do not have to be lawyers, but non-lawyers must complete a training course and pass an exam. Constables are elected for 6-year terms in boroughs, townships and the wards of most cities.

#School boards, tax collectors and poll officials

Most school districts have 9 school directors, elected for 4-year terms at municipal elections, either districtwide or by region. The board chooses the superintendent. Philadelphia is different: its 9 board members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by City Council. Tax collectors are elected for 4-year terms, though in third-class cities and first-class townships the elected treasurer collects taxes. Each election district elects a judge of election and 2 inspectors for 4-year terms to run its polling place.

#When Pennsylvanians vote

Pennsylvania has two kinds of November elections, and both fall on the Tuesday after the first Monday. The general election comes in even-numbered years. It covers federal offices and the General Assembly, where state House members serve 2 years and state senators serve 4. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected in midterm years, and the attorney general, auditor general and treasurer in presidential years. All five serve 4-year terms. The municipal election comes in odd-numbered years. It covers county, city, borough, township and ward offices, judges, school directors and other local posts.