YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Some York County residents will get to choose their state representative twice this spring — sort of.

That’s because the state will hold a special election on May 19 — the date of the primary election — for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 196, which Republican Seth Grove held since 2008. Grove resigned last week amid conflict-of-interest complaints over his new job with a trade group.

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House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) ordered the election.

Pennsylvania holds special elections to fill the remainder of unexpired terms when a lawmaker resigns or leaves office. Grove’s term expires Nov. 30 this year, and voters will need to choose someone to finish it, as well as candidates to run in the general election.

Holding the special election during an already scheduled election saves money because it won’t require staffing a standalone election. Last legislative session, special elections cost the state at least $1 million, an analysis from Spotlight PA found.

However, the arrangement could confuse voters, or even lead to drastically different results.

In a special election, state party committees pick candidates rather than hold a primary. The winner serves only the remainder of an unexpired term. Unlike primary elections, voters do not need to be affiliated with a party to vote in a special election.

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While the party-selected candidates are likely to also run in the primary election, candidates who didn’t make the cut have the opportunity to snag their party’s nomination and run in November’s general election. If the winner of the special election doesn’t win the general election, three different lawmakers could have represented the district before the year is over.

There are already five special elections scheduled so far this year. Voters will go to the polls in February to fill two seats in Allegheny and Lehigh counties, while March will host elections to fill two seats in Adams/Cumberland and Blair counties.

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