HOLLIDAYSBURG — The state is expected to cover most of Blair County’s expenses for the March 17 special election to pick a state representative for the 79th District, county Director of Elections Sarah Seymour said Thursday.

Commissioners, who recently approved transferring $75,200 into various accounts to cover special election expenses, took that action based on what Seymour called “an educated guess” reflecting costs associated with prior elections.

If the invoices exceed the available funds, then some more money may need to be transferred, she said. But as the invoices arrive, the expenses are going to be tracked so the county can seek state reimbursement.

The only expense the state is excluding, Seymour said, would be amounts paid to county election workers for regular shifts on March 17. If they work overtime hours, however, then that amount can be tracked and reimbursed.

The 79th District, which includes Altoona, Logan Township, Allegheny Township and a portion of Tunnelhill, needs a new state representative to fill the post that became vacant when state Rep. Lou Schmitt resigned in December to become a county judge starting in January.

Based on recommendations by the county political parties, the 79th District voters will see the names of Democrat Caleb McCoy and Republican Andrea Verobish on their ballots. They’ll also have the option of offering a write-in candidate.

Laura Burke, who chairs the election board, named ballot printing and coding and the cost of renting sites for polling locations as expenses that will initially be paid with transferred money, as she and fellow commissioners Dave Kessling and Amy Webster approved during their Feb. 26 meeting. Because schools are in session on March 17, Burke said that that forced the county to look for some alternative polling sites to rent.

Seymour said other costs associated with the special election will be poll worker pay, poll book printing, legal advertisements, mail-in ballots, postage to notify voters of polling place changes, supply boxes at precincts and on-site technical support from Election Systems & Software, the company that manufactured the county’s voting equipment.

“We are running a mini election, with all the same expenses of a regular election,” the elections director said.

Seymour’s office has already posted sample ballots on the county’s website at www.blairco.org.

Voting poll changes, as approved by the county elections board during a special meeting in February, are as follows:

— Altoona 2nd Ward, 2nd Precinct — From the Altoona Area School District Fieldhouse to the Altoona Area Junior High School, athletic doors, 1400 Seventh Ave.

— Altoona 4th Ward, 1st Precinct — From the Altoona Area School District Fieldhouse to the Altoona Area Junior High School, athletic doors, 1400 Seventh Ave.

— Altoona 4th Ward, 2nd Precinct — From the Altoona Area School District Fieldhouse to Altoona Area Junior High School, athletic doors, 1400 Seventh Ave.

— Altoona 7th Ward — From Irving Elementary School, 110 Cherry Ave., to St. Therese’s Church, Father Kelley Hall, 2412 Fifth St.

— Altoona 8th Ward, 2nd Precinct — From Washington and Jefferson Elementary School, 420 First Ave., to Bethany Lutheran Church, 200 Third Ave.

— Logan Township District 6 — From Logan Elementary School, 301 Sycamore St., to the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company, 1500 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd.

A-frame signs are to be posted at all former polling locations with information about the new location.

Blair County’s spring primary is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.

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