Votes cast for two candidates won’t count

Blair ballots still show ineligible Senate picks

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County voters are being advised that if they vote Tuesday for former U.S. Senate candidates William Parker or Joseph J. Vodvarka, their votes won't count.

In separate decisions, the state Supreme Court ordered Parker's name to be removed from the Democratic primary ballot and Vodvarka's name to be removed from the Republican primary ballot. Both decisions addressed challenges raised to the nomination petitions filed by the candidates.

Because Blair and some other counties arranged for the ballots to be printed while the legal challenges were pending, their ballots show Parker and Vodvarka as candidates.

Blair County's ballot has their names because it had to meet ballot printing and mailing deadlines, Director of Elections Sarah Seymore recently explained.

Seymour also said at that time that notices were being prepared to display at all voting precincts, advising that all voters who cast votes for Parker and Vodvarka, except by write-in, won't be counted in light of the court rulings.

The ballots

Area residents heading to the polls will be voting for their party's presidential nominee, as well as nominees for attorney general, auditor general and state treasurer, among a handful of other races. Voters will also be choosing delegates for their respective party's national convention.

The only local contested race is for the Republican nominee in the 80th District. Voters will be choosing between incumbent Jim Gregory and newcomer Scott Barger as their nominee for the state House of Representatives.

The 80th District includes part of Blair and Huntingdon counties. In Blair County, the 80th District includes Antis Township, Bellwood, Blair Township, Catharine Township, Duncansville, Frankstown Township, Freedom Township, Greenfield Township, Hollidaysburg, Huston Township, Juniata Township, Martinsburg, Newry, North Woodbury Township, Roaring Spring, Snyder Township, Taylor Township, Tyrone, Tyrone Township, Williamsburg and Woodbury Township. In Huntingdon County, the 80th District includes Birmingham, Franklin Township and Warriors Mark Township.

Lou Schmitt is running unopposed for representative in the General Assembly 79th District on the Republican ballot. The 79th District includes the City of Altoona, Allegheny and Logan townships, and the Blair County portion of Tunnelhill Borough.

Blair ballots will include the following races, in addition to the party delegates:

Democrat

President

• Joseph R. Biden Jr.

• Dean Phillips

United States Senator

Vote for 1

• William Parker

• Robert P. Casey Jr.

Attorney General

Vote for 1

• Jack Stollsteimer

• Eugene DePasquale

• Joe Khan

• Keir Bradford-Grey

• Jared Solomon

Auditor General

• Vote for 1

• Malcolm Kenyatta

• Mark Pinsley

State Treasurer

Vote for 1

• Ryan Bizzarro

• Erin McClelland

Representative in Congress

13th Congressional District

Vote for 1

• Beth Farnham

Republican

President

• Nikki R. Haley

• Donald J. Trump

United States Senator

Vote for 1

• Dave McCormick

• Joseph J. Vodvarka

Attorney General

Vote for 1

• Dave Sunday

• Craig Williams

Auditor General

Vote for 1

• Tim DeFoor

State Treasurer

Vote for 1

• Stacy Garrity

Representative in Congress

13th Congressional District

Vote for 1

• John Joyce

Representative in the General Assembly

79th District

Vote for 1

• Lou Schmitt

Representative in the General Assembly

80th District

Vote for 1

• Scott Barger

• Jim Gregory