County prepares for upcoming ’24 election deadlines
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LEWISTOWN -- April showers might typically bring May flowers, but it also means the start of the 2024 elections.
This year, America will elect a president and the U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Scranton) and Rep. David Rowe (R-85 which is Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder and Union counties) are up for re-election.
Incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris are eligible for a second term.
Casey is seeking a fourth team, with a challenge from Republican Dave McCormick who looks to unseat the senator from Scranton.
Rowe is running against Democrat Nick Jacobson.
County election officials anticipate that the polls will see higher voter turnout, longer lines and more mail-in ballots will be counted starting with the April 23 primary election. That trend should continue -- and even spike -- right through the Nov. 5 general election.
Eva Weyrich, voter registrar and director of elections for Juniata County, has already noticed an uptick in electronic activity as people are registering to vote or applying for a ballot online.
"Because it's a presidential year, people forget about the primary in April," Weyrich explained. "It's been steady."
In Mifflin County, Voter Registrar and Director of Elections Paula Hoffman wasn't in office for the last presidential election so she isn't sure what to expect for activity between now and November.
Her office has been working diligently to prepare voters for the upcoming elections. That includes mailing out the permanent mail-in ballots, Hoffman said. "We've had a good turnout of people sending them back."
There have already been critical deadlines for candidates that have already passed, including the last day to circulate and file nomination petitions as well as the deadline for state-level public office candidates to file statements of financial interests with the state Ethics Commission.
Wednesday was also the deadline for casting lots in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth for position of names on the primary ballot.
Upcoming dates to remember are:
Today: Last day that may be fixed by the Court of Common Pleas or the Commonwealth Court for hearings on objections that have been filed to nomination petitions.
Feb. 28: Last day for withdrawal by candidates who filed nomination petitions.
March 4: County boards of election must begin to transit ballots and balloting materials to all covered voters under the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act in extremely remote or isolated areas; and county boards of elections must start to process official applications for civilian absentee and main-in ballots. County boards of elections may begin to process applications earlier if it deems it appropriate.
March 12: Last day for candidates for statewide offices and treasurers of political committees and lobbyists which have expended money for the purpose of influencing the nomination of the candidates to file campaign expense reports or statements to the state office. The reports were to be completed by March 4.
April 8: Last day to register to vote before the primary.
April 16: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot.
April 23: General primary with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and last day for county board of elections to receive completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots (must be received by 8 p.m.).
April 30: Last day for county board of elections to receive completed military and overseas absentee ballots (submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 22).
After a summer break, the deadlines start back up on Aug. 1 for the Nov. 5 general election.