Updates, 8:49 p.m.
One of the closest races in the county thus far is the Conshohocken ballot referendum on exploring home rule.
Only mail-in ballots have been counted thus far. The "yes" votes in support of the measure have the lead.
8:30 p.m. Election authorities have not yet published the results of any local precincts, leaving Hatfield residents waiting for the first results.
However, enough statewide ballots have already been counted in other districts that AP News projects Gov. Shapiro will win re-election, the first significant result in Pennsylvania of the night.
Original story: Polls are closed in Pennsylvania and results are starting to come in for the Conshohocken ballot referendum on exploring home rule.
Live results will be posted here as they come in to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Check back to Patch throughout the evening for the latest updated totals.
If passed, the ballot referendum would take steps toward possibly adopting a home rule charter, which is essentially a local constitution that shifts the source of a town's authority from the state to the municipality.
Voters within the borough will see this text on their ballots:
Shall a government study commission of seven members be elected to study the existing form of government of Conshohocken Borough, to consider the advisability of the adoption of a home rule charter, and if advisable, to draft and to recommend a home rule charter?
Most municipalities operate under state codes, which mean they can do what the state permits. A home rule charter, alternatively, means a municipality can structure its rules and policies in any way it desires, so long as it does not violate state and federal law.
It's one of those gray area quirks and distinctions that can oftentimes mean absolutely nothing. In other cases, it provides the necessary wiggle room for a municipality to exercise much desired local authority.
In Conshohocken's case, the current push to explore home rule is largely due to the proposed $52 million sale of the borough's sewer system to a private corporation. With a home rule charter, the borough has the authority to protect its utilities from being overtaken by private entities which could potentially massively increase sewer bills.
The proposal has been sharply criticized by the county's Democratic establishment.
Six other Montgomery County communities already have a home rule charter, including Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Horsham, Norristown, Plymouth, Towamencin, and Whitemarsh.
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