There is a special election today to fill the unexpired term of the state House of Representatives 79th Legislative District seat previously held by Lou Schmitt, who resigned in December to become a Blair County judge after winning election to the bench in November.

Only residents of the 79th District — Altoona, Logan and Allegheny townships and the Blair County section of Tunnelhill Borough — are eligible to vote.

On the ballot are Republican Andrea Verobish and Democrat Caleb McCoy, both chosen in nominating conventions held by the respective parties in January.

The location of polling places for six precincts have been changed for the special election only, according to Director of Elections Sarah Seymour:

– Residents of Altoona Ward 2, Precinct 2; and Ward 4, Precincts 1 and 2, will vote inside the athletic doors of the Altoona Area Junior High School, 1400 Seventh Ave., instead of in the high school fieldhouse;

– Residents of Altoona Ward 7 will vote in St. Therese’s Father Kelley Hall, 2412 Fifth St., instead of at Irving Elementary School;

– Residents of Altoona Ward 8, Precinct 2 will vote at Bethany Lutheran Church, 200 Third Ave., rather than at the former Washington & Jefferson Elementary School building;

– And residents of Logan Township District 6 will vote at the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company station, 1500 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd., rather than at Logan Elementary School.

The changes in venue needed to be made for the special election to ensure that voters would be kept separate from students, Seymour said.

There will be signs at the regular polling places directing those who go there by mistake to the new polling places set up for Tuesday.

Voters can find their polling places by going to the Blair County Elections/Voter Registration website, scrolling down to the heading “2026 Election Information,” then clicking on “Polling Place List” under that heading.

Verobish has worked as a staffer for U.S. Rep. Glenn G.T. Thompson. She was nominated by the 79th District conferees in competition with Blair County Controller A.C. Stickel.

McCoy was nominated with no competition. He works as a registered nurse at Presbyterian Village in Hollidaysburg.