Primary runs smoothly, election certification underway

Counties to process overseas and provisional ballots, then audit results, before certification

• Jordan Wilkie/WITF
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  As the democracy reporter for WITF, I will cover any kind of story that has to do with how we govern ourselves. That will include doing a lot of election coverage about how to access the ballot, how public officials administer elections, the technology used to run and secure elections, and the laws that govern it all.
  
  My work will also include accountability coverage for elected officials that use their positions to then undermine democratic institutions, like the legislators that voted against the certification of the presidential election results on January 6, 2021. If that weren’t enough, I foresee covering some local government decisions, fights over public records and transparency, and some candidate coverage in 2024. Many stories can have a “democracy frame” meant to help us all understand how our governments work and how we can shape them.
  
  I’m most looking forward to the community reporting about which WITF is passionate. I’ll be talking to a lot of folks about what they want out of their governments, local to national, and how they want to make their visions reality. I’m excited to meet you and talk, with or without a microphone on hand.
  
  I also like to turn my work phone off. When I do that, I’m looking for rocks to climb, trails to run on (slower and slower, somehow), and new places to visit. I’ve lived in the (extended) South for most of my life, so y’all will hear me say things funny and sometimes my hearing is funny, too, so we’ll figure out this radio thing together.

Vote here signs outside of Central Dauphin East Middle School in Lower Paxton Township during the Pennsylvania primary on April 23, 2024 (Jeremy Long - WITF)

Election administrators are touting the primary as a success in terms of the process. 

The Pennsylvania Department of State and groups like Common Cause, which monitors elections, say only a low number of incidents occurred — all minor — such as slight delays in opening precincts and poor signage directing voters to the correct location. 

Secretary of State Al Schmidt gives credit to the approximately 45,000 election workers, including county staff and poll workers. 

“Because of them, Pennsylvanians were able to cast their vote at more than 9,000 polling places across our 67 counties and working a more than 13-hour day with minimum, minimal isolated issues,” Schmidt said at a news conference Tuesday night. 

Schmidt has warned for months that new elections leaders are more likely to make mistakes in administering an election — since Pennsylvania has some of the highest election official turnover in the country since 2020. 

“It went great, yeah, I’m not a novice voter. So it was very smooth, no lines,” said Mary Speca, a Cumberland County voter. 

Turnout was relatively low for a primary that featured several high-profile races.

For example, the Democratic primary in the 10th Congressional District saw a 30% turnout with 60,300 votes — 19,000 fewer than were cast in the 2020 primary and about even with 2022.

County elections offices still have lots of work to do.

Results are unofficial until county officials count provisional and overseas ballots then audit the results. Counties must certify the primary results to the Department of State by May 13.

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.

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