Lackawanna County voters exercising their democratic right in Tuesday\u2019s primary election will find relatively few contested races on their ballots this time around, but Democrats in the 22nd state Senate District and Republicans in the 114th state House District will decide which candidate from their respective parties will advance to November.<\/p>\n
Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn of Dunmore, who seeks reelection in the 22nd Senate District that spans parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, faces a primary challenge from Democratic newcomer Jeffrey Lake of Clarks Summit. The winner is poised to face presumptive GOP nominee Sharon Soltis Sparano of La Plume Twp., who is unopposed in the Republican primary, later this year.<\/p>\n
The GOP primary in the 114th House District will determine which Republican candidate, David Burgerhoff of Scranton or Logan Lombardo of Clarks Summit, advances to face incumbent Democratic state Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski of Waverly Twp. in November. Kosierowski is unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the district that includes Benton Twp., Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Greenfield Twp., North Abington Twp., Scott Twp., parts of Scranton, South Abington Twp. and Waverly Twp.<\/p>\n
Neither the Republican nor Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District seat is contested, meaning incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Dallas Twp. and Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti will advance to a midterm election matchup that\u2019s expected to be among the nation\u2019s most competitive. The 8th District includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what else voters should know as they head to the polls:<\/p>\n
Voting hours<\/p>\n
Primary election polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., but voters still waiting in line at 8 have a right to cast their ballots.<\/p>\n
Those who plan to vote in person will be given a paper ballot to mark and scan after checking in at their polling place.<\/p>\n
Only first-time voters or those voting for the first time at a new precinct will have to show identification. Approved forms of identification include a Pennsylvania driver\u2019s license or ID issued by the state Department of Transportation, IDs issued by any other state agency or by the federal government, a U.S. passport or armed forces ID, or a student or employee ID.<\/p>\n
Anyone who experiences issues at the polls should immediately call the county elections department at 570-963-6737, county elections Director Beth Hopkins said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important that the voters know that if they get to their polling place on election day and for any reason they\u2019re not in the poll book or they\u2019re told they can\u2019t vote, don\u2019t wait until the next day to call the office,\u201d she said, noting, \u201cWe can normally rectify the situation pretty quickly, but don\u2019t wait until it\u2019s too late. Make sure you call the office while you\u2019re there and let us do everything we can to \u2026 investigate the situation so that the voter is able to vote on election day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drop box<\/p>\n
Only one mail-in ballot drop box is available on Election Day and it\u2019s located inside the entrance of the county government center in downtown Scranton.<\/p>\n
Voters can access the government center drop box until 8 p.m., when the polls close, and can also hand-deliver their completed mail-in ballot to the county elections department if they prefer not to use the secure receptacle. The department\u2019s office is located on the second floor of the government center, 123 Wyoming Ave., Scranton.<\/p>\n
By law, voters may return only their own ballot, regardless of whether they use the drop box or choose to deliver it to the elections department by hand. All mail-in ballots must be received by the county elections department by 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where to vote<\/p>\n
A list of polling places, sample ballots and other election-related information is available online at lackawannacounty.org by clicking the \u201cElections & Voter Registration<\/a>\u201d link under the government tab at the top of the website.<\/p>\n As a reminder, the county Board of Elections voted last month to permanently relocate the polling locations for Carbondale Ward 5, Precinct 1, and Carbondale Ward 6, Precinct 2, from the Mitchell Hose Company to the Carbondale Trinity Club, 83 S. Main St.<\/p>\n The board also approved the permanent relocation of Moosic\u2019s Wards 2 and 4 from the Greenwood Hose Company No. 1 to the Moosic Youth Center, 606 Main St. Voters there have been voting at the youth center for the past three elections, as it previously served as a temporary polling place during a Greenwood Hose Company construction project.<\/p>\n