Despite some issues, Pa. secretary of state declares primary election a ‘success’

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman declared the 2022 Pennsylvania primary election a success Tuesday night.

“County and state election officials deserve a lot of credit for administering an election during an unprecedented redistricting cycle,” Chapman said Tuesday night. “I’m proud of them and every voter who cast a ballot in this election. We saw democracy in action today in Pennsylvania.”

Counties received about 900,000 mail ballot applications — nearly 800,000 applications for no-excuse, mail-in ballots and 100,000 absentee ballot applications — ahead of the primary election. Chapman said about 70 percent of mail ballots were returned before the 8 p.m. deadline on Election Night.

The Department of State answered more than 1,100 calls on Election Day, with the majority of questions focused on voter registration, polling place location, or mail-in ballots.

Three counties reported issues. 

In Berks County, at least two dozen polling places experienced long lines caused by issues with electronic poll books. A court order extended voting in Berks County until 9 p.m. In Lancaster County, election officials could not scan about 22,000 mail ballots because of incorrect codes. The county will duplicate them by hand and scam them over the next few days. Allegheny County also experienced a ballot shortage.

“I want to thank county election officials and poll workers for conducting another free, fair, and secure election, and voters for turning out to do their part,” Chapman said. “Now I ask everyone to be patient as counties continue the process of accurately and securely counting every vote.”