At long last, it's primary day in Pennsylvania. Here's what to expect
Pennsylvania voters go to the polls Tuesday for a presidential primary postponed from April 28.
In Erie County, nearly a fifth of registered voters have or will vote by mail. Those who return to the polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic will find new but limited numbers of voting machines, which will produce a paper backup. Machines will be limited, in part, as one of several precautionary measures. Many voters will fill out a paper ballot when they go to vote instead.
They'll also find a short ballot, highlighted by the essentially uncontested presidential race for both Republicans and Democrats.
The other contested race is on the Democratic side in the Pennsylvania Senate 49th District race, which pits Erie County Councilman Andre Horton against Julie Slomski, the former northwest regional director for Gov. Tom Wolf. Horton, 60, of Erie, and Slomski, 42, of Millcreek Township , are vying for the chance to unseat Republican incumbent state Sen. Dan Laughlin. Laughlin is seeking a second four-year term.
The 49th District covers all of northern Erie County and most of western Erie County.
All local incumbent state representatives are unopposed in their respective primaries and only two have potential challenges for the Nov. 3 general election.
State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-3rd Dist., is facing a write-in campaign by Republican Greg Hayes, who was removed from the ballot for having an insufficient number of valid signatures on his nominating petitions. Bizzarro is asking Republicans to write-in his name in an effort to derail Hayes.
And Democrat Matthew Ferrence is challenging Republican incumbent state Rep. Brad Roae in the 6th District.
Voters will also select delegates to their respective national conventions and local party committee members.
In other state races, there are single candidates for both Democrats and Republicans in the races for attorney general, which in November will pit Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro against Republican Heather Heidelbaugh; and treasurer, a race between Democratic incumbent Joe Torsella and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity.
In the race for auditor general, six Democrats are seeking to replace incumbent Eugene DePasquale, who is running for Congress. The six Democrats are Scott Conklin, Michael Lamb, Tracie Fountain, Nina Ahmid, Christina Hartman and Rose Davis. The winner will challenge Republican Timothy DeFoor in November. DeFoor is unopposed Tuesday.
Tuesday's primary also sets up a general election contest between U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th Dist., and Democratic challenger Kristy Gnibus, a Millcreek school teacher.
The effect of the pandemic, the postponement of the primary and the new option for anyone to vote by mail make turnout difficult to estimate. In 2016, when both parties were fielding new nominees, 39 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the presidential primary. In 2012, when one of the nominees was an incumbent, then-President Barack Obama, only 24 percent of Erie County registered voters cast ballots.
Wolf on Monday afternoon signed an executive order extending the deadline for county election offices in six counties including Erie to receive absentee or mail-in ballots to June 9 at 5 p.m. They must be postmarked by June 2, 2020, and the deadline to hand-deliver such ballots is 8 p.m. Tuesday. Ballots can be dropped off in a secure collection bin outside of the Erie County Courthouse, 140 W. Sixth St.
“This is an unprecedented time for Pennsylvania and our nation as we face a major public health crisis and civil unrest during an election,” Wolf said. “Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and I want to ensure that voters can cast their ballot and that it is received in time.”
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
For a guide on how to use Erie County's new voting machines, go to: bit.ly/2U0pgch
To verify your voter registration status, including party affiliation, go to: bit.ly/3eFdhJc
To verify where your polling place is located, go to: bit.ly/2U1hTkZ
Contact Matthew Rink at mrink@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNrink.
Primary day
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.