Bucks County primary results offer no surprises from the polls

It's Pennsylvania Primary Election Day.

The primary is the precursor to the general election in November, shaping the ballot and in some cases giving a good indication of who will ultimately take the seat on Election Day. While the race to watch in the Delaware Valley is the Democratic primary for Philadelphia mayor, Bucks County voters don't have a say in that race.

Though not as high profile as that close contest in the city, the races here in Bucks will have impact. Here's what you need to know. And while our early deadlines will not allow us to get your results in Wednesday's print editions, we will have coverage of the primary and its impact later in the week and in Sunday's print editions.

PA Primary set for May 16: Pa. voters head to the polls next month. A look at what's at stake in the primary.

What's at stake in Bucks County in the PA primary?

Republicans and Democrats in Bucks County will go the polls Tuesday to cast their votes, shaping the general election ballot in the fall. There are races on ballots throughout the county including school board contests in Central Bucks and Council Rock and a contest among the GOP for the county commissioner race in the fall.

The Democrats also have a primary race for county coroner. There are also several primary races for municipal seats.

There is one vacancy and one retention election in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas this year.

Statewide voters will cast ballots for judicial post on the state Supreme Court and Superior Court. There are no statehouse races on the primary ballot in Bucks County this year.

Bucks County primary election results

The polls close at 8 p.m. and the counting begins. The Bucks County Board of Election will update vote counts on the county website, but there is no guarantee any winner will be declared Tuesday night. All results will be unofficial as the county needs to allow time for provisional and overseas ballots to be counted.

The polls throughout the county appeared to be slow Tuesday, but primaries generally produce lower turnout.

Find the latest Bucks County primary election results here. The county expects to begin releasing counts starting at 8:30 p.m.

With nearly 91 percent of the votes counted, Coroner Meredith Buck looked to be edged out by newcomer Patti Campi in the Democratic primary to lead the office. Buck lost the endorsement of the party after her first term due to a public feud with the county commissioners.

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However the day proved successful for another incumbent, and his running mate, in the GOP primary for county commissioner. Gene DiGirolamo and Pamela Van Blunk bested challenger Andy Warren for spots on the November ballot. They will take on the Democrats who ran unopposed in their primary, and try to wrestle control of the county from the Dems.

DiGirolamo, Van Blunk win: Incumbent GOP Bucks County commissioner, running mate win spots on November ballot

Central Bucks School board races shape up

The Central Bucks School Board will look different come the end of the year no matter who wins the general election. The primary set up races in regions 1,2, 3,6 and 8.

Incumbent Leigh Vlasblom (Region 3),  Sharon Collopy (Region 6) and  Tabitha Dell Angelo (Region 8) did not seek reelection. Vlasblom and Collopy are Republicans and Dell Angelo is a Democrat.

Currently, the GOP holds control of the 9-member board with just three Democrats holding seats. Gains by the Dems in November could shift influence and power in a district, and be a referendum of the current and future direction of the board, that has seen its community split of various issues since the pandemic.

Region 1 will pit Democrat Karen Smith, a vocal opponent of the current board majority and its book challenge policy and another that mandates classroom neutrality among district teachers, against Stephen Mass, who has said he supports the recent policies.

Region 2 will see current board President Dana Hunter, a Republican who has defended the district's new policies, against Heather Reynolds.

Region 3 voters will decide between Republican Glenn Schloeffel, who says she supports the policies, and Dana Foley, who has opposed them.

Region 6 race features Rick Haring, an opponent of recent policies, and Republican Aarati P. Martino.

Region 8 will pit Democrat Susan Gibson, an opponent of recent policies, against Tony Arjona.

What time are the polls open for the PA primary?

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Pennsylvania law permits voters to cast a ballot in person or via mail.

Those voting for the first time, or for the first time at a new polling place, are required to show their ID. Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday. If you are in line at 8 p.m. you will be allowed to vote.

The Pennsylvania Department of State offers an online tool to help voters find their polling place.

Bucks County Ballot Drop Boxes for Primary 2023

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As of Monday, 55,440 mail-in and absentee ballots (40,900 to Democrats and 14,400 to Republicans and 111 to other party members) have been sent to Bucks County voters who requested them, and Bucks County’s Official Ballot Drop Boxes have been open since April 24. Drop boxes at county government buildings in Upper, Central and Lower Bucks. There are also ballot boxes in libraries throughout the county.

Voters are only allowed to return their own ballot, with the exception of those authorized as Designated Agents of another voter. As of Monday, about 36,7460 ballots had been returned to the Board of Elections.

Officials said Monday if you have not mailed in your ballot it is better to use the drop box at this point to ensure your ballot is returned in time.

Ballots must be sealed in both the secrecy and return envelopes.

To be counted, mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Military and overseas absentee ballots must be submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. May 15 and received by counties May 23.

For more information about voting in Bucks County, visit BucksCounty.gov/Elections

Who can vote in the PA primary on Tuesday?

To vote Tuesday, Pennsylvania residents needed to register by May 1. And only those registered and affiliated with a the Republican or Democratic party can cast ballots.

That's because Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, where a voter must affiliate formally with a political party in advance of the election date in order to participate in that party's primary.

According to the Bucks County Board of Elections, as of December 2022, Bucks County has 204,145 registered Democrats 196,480 registered Republicans and 81,126 voters who claimed no affiliation.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County primary results to come as polls close in PA