Blair GOP registers increase in voters

Records show 3,324 more Republicans than four years ago eligible to vote today

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- For today's primary, Blair County's Republican party has 3,324 more eligible voters than it did four years ago when the same offices were up for grabs.

The county's registration numbers, recently posted online by Director of Elections Sarah Seymour, shows the Republican party's increase in registration, from 44,635 in 2020 to 47,959 for today's primary.

County records also show that the Republican party's 2020 registration was an increase over its 2016 registration of 41,483 voters.

Meanwhile, the amount of county Democrats eligible to vote in today's primary has dropped. Records show 19,698 county residents are registered as Democratic, down from the 2020 registration of 21,667 and down from the 2016 registration of 24,180.

While the change in voter registration numbers may or may not play a role in today's turnout, election records indicate that the county's voter turnout is generally higher in presidential election years than in non-presidential election years.

Four years ago, when then-President Donald Trump was campaigning for the Republican nomination and re-election, 40.2% of Blair County's registered Republicans showed up to vote in the June 2 primary.

On the same day, 36.2% of Blair County's Democrats voted in the primary where Joe Biden was the lead candidate for the party's nomination.

A year ago -- for the May 16, 2023, primary when county and municipal races dominated the ballot -- 33.7% of the county's Republicans and 28% of the county's Democrats went to the polls.

Election information

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt is encouraging voters to rely on county election offices and the state's vote.pa.gov website for reliable information about voting options. Blair County has election information posted on its website at www.blairco.org. The phone number is 814-693-3150.

First-time voters -- or those voting for the first time in a new precinct -- must show ID, he said, which includes both photo and non-photo ID. Registered first-time voters who lack ID are allowed to leave and return with identification or they can complete a provisional ballot, he said.

Voting polls

Voting polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and a listing of all Blair County voting polls can be found at www.blairco.org.

Blair County Commissioner Laura Burke, who is chairing the elections board this year, mentioned at a recent meeting that all voting locations are staying the same as they were in November. While the board of elections usually considers changes during a pre-primary board meeting, none were needed in preparation for today.

After the polls close, the county also posts available results on its website.

Still have a mail/absentee ballot?

Voters who applied for and received a mailed ballot but want to vote at the polls should take that ballot, including the outer envelope, to the poll, where the mailed ballot will be voided.

The Blair County Elections Office, 279 Loop Road, will also accept mailed ballots through 8 p.m. today at its office. For votes to count, the ballot must be presented by the registered voter and no later than 8 p.m.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.