By Kay Stephens

kstephens@altoonamirror.com

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The competition for local legislative seats could be the factor that prompts some Blair County’s voters to head to the polls today.

In the 2014 primary, where voters nominated candidates for offices on today’s ballot, 26 percent of the county’s registered Republicans voted, and 18.7 percent of the county’s registered Democrats voted. That’s when the Republicans nominated incumbent Tom Corbett for governor and Democrats nominated Tom Wolf, who went on to win the race in the fall.

In this year’s gubernatorial contest, Wolf is again on the primary ballot for his party’s nomination, and Republican voters have a choice of three candidates, Scott Wagner, Paul Mango and Laura Ellworth.

But in addition to governor, local voters who may turn out for today’s primary will play a role in selecting a new congressional representative or a state lawmaker.

“There was an uptick in the number of absentee ballots re­quested, a little more than usual for a primary,” Blair County Director of Elections Sarah Sey­mour said. “So that might indicate voter turnout could be stronger.”

On this year’s ballot, Republicans are looking at eight candidates interested in representing the newly redrawn 13th Congressional District, where voters have traditionally supported U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster and his father, retired U.S. Rep. Bud Shuster. The younger Shuster decided not to seek re-election, a decision that put his seat up for grabs.

Because state Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. chose to run for 13th Congressional seat instead of re-election, Republican voters have a choice between Judy Ward and Daniel Kiss for the state Senate seat nomination that Eichelberger holds now.

And because Ward, currently the 80th District representative, is running for Senate, Republicans will choose between Chris Creek or Jim Gregory to be on the November ballot.

In addition, Republicans in the state’s 79th District have a choice to nominate Sharon Bream or Lou Schmitt to compete for that legislative seat. Incumbent John McGinnis is wrapping up his term in office at the end of the year.

The amount of candidates in this year’s primary has generated questions, Sey­mour said.

Those contacting her office, she said, have asked who is running for what seat, and they’ve been asking for sample ballots.

Answers to election-related questions are also available on the county’s newly designed website, at www.blairco.org, where sample ballots are posted for voters in every county precinct.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.

The county made two changes in polling places for today.

Hollidaysburg Ward 3 voters will cast ballots at the Knights of Columbus in­stead of the borough building. Seymour said voters asked for a change due to lack of parking and no bus stop.

The Allegheny Township 2nd Precinct voters will cast ballots at the Pennsylvania National Guard Readiness Center near the Meadows Intersection. Their polling location, the township municipal building, is being remodeled.