Pennsylvania Primary Day is here. What you need to know

Crissa Shoemaker DeBree, Bucks County Courier Times
·5 min read

Pennsylvania's primary election is here, and a number of issues — from abortion and voting rights, to inflation and energy independence — will influence voters at the polls.

Still undecided? Check out our Voters Guide on our websites. We asked candidates to explain their stances on important issues facing Pennsylvania voters.

Once you're familiarized yourself with the candidates, here's everything else you need to know about voting.

Live updates from local polls:Bucks County voters talk issue as they head to polls for PA primary election. Live updates

View our complete Voters Guide:Election 2022: Your guide to the Pennsylvania primary election

Who is on the ballot in the Pennsylvania primary?

The hottest races in the May 17 primary are for U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor.

In the Senate race, five Democrats and seven Republicans are running for their chance to replace retiring Sen. Pat Toomey in Washington. Celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz and Montgomery County political commentator Kathy Barnette are leading the race in the final days before the election.

On the PA campaign trail:Trump crowd gives Oz lukewarm reception; Barnette gaining traction

Seven Republicans — Jake Corman dropped out on Thursday, and Melissa Hart on Friday — are running campaigns to be their party's nominee for governor. They'll face Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the fall.

In Bucks County, moderate Republican Brian Fitzpatrick faces a primary challenge from conservative Alex Entin in the race for the 1st District Congressional seat. Democrat Ashley Ehasz will face the winner in the fall.

All of Bucks County's General Assembly seats also are up grabs this year, and Republican voters in the 31st state House district, are being asked to choose between Bernie Sauer, a small business owner from Newtown Borough, and Jennifer Spillane, a marketing professional from Lower Makefield. The winner of the GOP primary will face incumbent Democrat Perry Warren in the November general election.

County worker Diane Johnson, looks on as, Bill Mumbauer checks a cage with voting machines as they prepare to ship the last of the polling machines to their respective polling place Friday, May 13, 2022 at Bucks County Government Services in Doylestown ahead of Tuesday's primary election.
County worker Diane Johnson, looks on as, Bill Mumbauer checks a cage with voting machines as they prepare to ship the last of the polling machines to their respective polling place Friday, May 13, 2022 at Bucks County Government Services in Doylestown ahead of Tuesday's primary election.

Voting around PennsylvaniaLive updates of 2022 Primary Day around the state

The 31st district is comprised of Lower Makefield, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield, Newtown Borough and Yardley.

Republican voters in Upper Bucks also will choose their nominee for state Senate in the newly redistricted 16th district, which includes Bedminster, Bridgeton, Durham, East Rockhill, Haycock, Hilltown, Milford, Nockamixon, Richland, Springfield, Tinicum, West Rockhill, Dublin, Perkasie, Quakertown, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Sellersville, Silverdale, Telford and Trumbauersville.

Republican incumbent Pat Browne faces a primary challenge from Jarrett Coleman, a member of the Parkland School Board. Democrat Mark Pinsley, Lehigh County's elected controller, is unopposed for his party's nomination.

In Montgomery County, Republican voters also will decide a contested Republican primary in the 4th District in U.S. Congress, with executive Christian Nascimento and small business owner Daniel Burton Jr. looking to unseat Democrat Madeleine Dean in November.

For subscribers:Before Stonewall, Bucks County Community College held one of the earliest gay rights protests. Here's how it happened

Can anyone vote in Pennsylvania's primary?

Pennsylvania has a closed primary, meaning only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote for their party's nominees.

You can check your registration status, including your party, online at pavoterservices.pa.gov.

Not registered? You won't be able to vote in the primary election, but you have until Oct. 24 to register for the November election.

Can I still send a mail-in ballot?

It's too late to request a mail-in or absentee ballot, but if you've already received one, it's not too late to fill it out and vote.

Mail ballots must be received (postmarks don't count) by the county election board by 8 p.m. on Election Day, so it's too late to mail your vote in.

Make sure you sign your ballot and return it in the security envelope that was provided.

You can still drop off your ballot at the following locations, which are open until 8 p.m. on Election Day unless otherwise noted:

Bucks County

  • Upper Bucks Government Services Center, 261 California Road, Quakertown.

  • Lower Bucks Government Services Center, 7321 New Falls Road, Levittown.

  • County Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., Doylestown.

  • Bensalem Library, 3700 Hulmeville Road.

  • Bristol Borough Hall, 250 Pond St. Open until 4:30 p.m. on Election Day.

  • New Hope Library, 93 W. Ferry St. Open until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

  • Northampton Library, 25 Upper Holland Road, Richboro.

  • Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave.

  • Riegelsville Library, 615 Easton Road. Open until 5 p.m.

  • Warminster Library, 1076 Emma Lane

  • Yardley-Makefield Library, 1080 Edgewood Road

Montgomery County

  • Cheltenham Township Tax Office, 8230 Old York Road, Elkins Park

  • District Court 38-1-28, 430 Pennbrook Parkway, Lansdale

  • Ludington Library, 5 South Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr

  • Montgomery County Airy Street Parking Lot, Corner of Airy and DeKalb streets, Norristown

  • Montgomery County Health Clinic, 364 King St., Pottstown

  • Victory Park Parking Lot, 2nd & Arch streets, Royersford

  • Montgomery County 4H Center, 1015 Bridge Road, Collegeville

  • Upper Dublin Library, 520 Virginia Dr., Fort Washington

  • Green Lane Park Office, 2144 Snyder Road

  • Upper Merion Township Building, 175 W. Valley Forge Road

  • Willow Grove Annex, 102 N. York Road

Analysis: We examined millions of Pennsylvania voter records. There were few 'irregularities'

When are the polls open? Where can I vote?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're in line at 8 p.m. you will be allowed to vote.

Not sure where you polling place is? Visit vote.pa.gov.

If you received a mail ballot but would like to vote in person instead, take your ballot — including the security envelope and the envelope in which it was received — to your polling place on Election Day. You'll be able to vote by regular ballot then.

If you received a mail ballot and lost it, you can vote at your polling place by provisional ballot.

You do not need an ID to vote unless you are voting for the first time.

Other key Pennsylvania election dates

Nov. 1 is the last day to apply for a mail ballot for the November election.

The General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA primary 2022: Here's what to know about voting in the election