Pennsylvania Primary Underway; Turnout Reported Light Locally
LOCK HAVEN – Registered Republicans and Democrats are voting on Tuesday in Pennsylvania’s spring primary, pushed back from its original April date by the coronavirus. Reports are that the turnout is light across Clinton County.
There are just a handful of contested primary races and only registered Republicans and Democrats can go to the polls or their mailbox to cast their ballot. Per state election law, independents and “others” cannot vote until the November election.
Tuesday is the first time voters can use a mail-in ballot, other than absentee ballots, in lieu of going to the polls. Filled out mail-in ballots may be deposited in a special receptacle attached to the front of Clinton County’s Piper Building up until 8 p.m. Tuesday. The count of the mail-in and absentee ballots, the county, has announced, will begin Wednesday at 8 a.m. As of Monday, some 3,500 mail-in ballot applications had been mailed out and as of Monday, 2,200 had been returned. 
Contested races are minimal. The county Republican ballot carries a three-way race for the GOP nomination for state senate from the 25th district. The slot unexpectedly became available earlier this year when longtime incumbent and senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati announced he would not seek re-election.
That brought forth three GOP-ers seeking to replace him. They are state Rep. Cris Dush from Jefferson County, DuBois borough manager Herm Suplizio and Dr. Jim Brown from Jefferson County. The GOP primary survivor will square off in November versus the lone Democratic candidate, Margie Brown, a former public school teacher who serves on St. Marys Borough Council.
The primary will also serve to officially line up the candidates for the state House seat from the 76th District. Running unopposed are Republican incumbent Rep. Stephanie Borowicz and Democratic challenger, retired high school teacher Joe Waltz. They will face off in November.
Clinton County polling places will be open until 8 p.m.
