YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 Some York County residents will get to choose their state representative twice this spring \u2014 sort of.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because the state will hold a special election on May 19 \u2014 the date of the primary election \u2014 for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 196, which Republican Seth Grove held since 2008. Grove resigned last week<\/a> amid conflict-of-interest complaints over his new job with a trade group.<\/p>\n Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia\/Delaware) ordered the election.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania holds special elections to fill the remainder of unexpired terms when a lawmaker resigns or leaves office. Grove\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Holding the special election during an already scheduled election saves money because it won\u2019t require staffing a standalone election. Last legislative session, special elections cost the state at least $1 million, an analysis from Spotlight PA found<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, the arrangement could confuse voters, or even lead to drastically different results.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n