{"id":197089,"date":"2026-05-19T21:22:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T21:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/197089\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T21:22:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T21:22:15","slug":"low-erie-county-voter-turnout-expected-for-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/197089\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Erie County voter turnout expected for primary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Erie County officials are bracing for low voter turnout for the May 19 primary.<\/a><\/p>\n

County Clerk Karen Chillcott said reports from various polling places the morning of May 19 revealed sparse in-person turnout.<\/p>\n

It’s decision time: Your guide to Erie County’s May 19 primary ballot<\/a><\/p>\n

Chillcott did say, though, that she was encouraged by the number of mail ballots requested\/returned by registered voters throughout the county.<\/p>\n

\"Relatively<\/p>\n

Relatively few voters cast ballots at Trinity Lutheran Church, 14 E. 38th St., during the morning of May 19. The church is the polling site for Erie’s Fifth Ward, 12th District. Twenty-four people had voted as of 8:40 a.m.<\/p>\n

What does early turnout look like?<\/p>\n

County Clerk Karen Chillcott said reports from various polling places the morning of May 19 revealed sparse in-person turnout, ranging between 4% and 9%.<\/p>\n

“We had one polling place in Elgin Borough at 9% and that’s the highest we’ve seen so far,” Chillcott said at 11:30 a.m. on May 19.<\/p>\n

\"Erie<\/p>\n

Erie County Clerk Karen Chillcott.<\/p>\n

“We’ve got great weather. Maybe people will be out and about and voting later,” she said. “And I’m sure people will be more motivated in the fall.”<\/p>\n

Chillcott said she doubts countywide turnout will reach 20% before the polls close. Hours for in-person voting at the county’s polling sites were 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

The lowest primary turnout occurred in 1998, when just 13 percent of Erie County’s registered voters cast ballots.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The new Edison Elementary School, 1916 E. 7th St., was a new polling site for the Erie First Ward, 7th District and 8th District, during the May 19 primary. Poll workers reported low turnout with just over 100 voters casting ballots by 4 p.m. on May 19.<\/p>\n

Erie County’s record high turnout for a November election came in 1992, according to historical county elections data. That was a presidential election year which saw 87% of the county’s registered voters cast ballots and President Bill Clinton win a first term.<\/p>\n

The 2025 primary, which saw marquee local races for Erie mayor and Erie County executive, saw 25% turnout, according to county elections statistics.<\/p>\n

Mail ballot numbers<\/p>\n

Chillcott said 18,991 mail ballot applications from registered voters in Erie County were requested\/processed for the primary.<\/p>\n

As of 7 a.m. on May 19, 14,575 of those ballots had been returned to the county\u2019s Election Office, Chillcott said.<\/p>\n

She said that\u2019s a strong number for a primary that lacks a marquee local race.<\/p>\n

The Erie County Board of Elections will process and count any mail ballot received by 8 p.m. on May 19.<\/p>\n

\"Chairs<\/p>\n

Chairs were empty just after 3 p.m. at Lawrence Park’s District 2 polling site at UE Local 506, 3923 Main St. in Lawrence Park, during the Pennsylvania primary on May 19, 2026.<\/p>\n

No major problems reported<\/p>\n

Chillcott said no significant problems were reported May 19 at polling places countywide.<\/p>\n

Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at@ETNflowers.<\/a><\/p>\n

(This story was updated to add photos.)<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County primary: low voter turnout expected<\/a><\/p>\n