The impact of Pennsylvania’s voting reform act is still being felt in Clarion County, and county elections director Cindy Callihan said Tuesday “normal activities in the election office don’t exist anymore.”
Callihan said that due to Act 77 stipulations, the county sent out 3,500 notices to residents who voted in 2020 to apply for an annual ballot.
“We have had over 1,000 applications returned to the office so far, Callihan said. “That is well above what we normally have.”
Callihan also said there has been a significant decrease so far in the number of people seeking office for municipal posts in the May primary election.
“We have not had a lot of activity with people picking up petitions like we have had in the past. Normally at this time, with local elections especially, the requests for petitions have been pretty hot and heavy,” Callihan said. “I don’t know if it is due to COVID or a lack of interest,” she added.
“Last year with such a big election it has all calmed down ad people aren’t really thinking about election right now,” said Callihan. “I do know both the Democrat and Republican parties are holding events to have people come in and sign petitions.”
There are four county positions on the ballot – sheriff, coroner, treasurer and district judge 18-3-02. There are also numerous borough, township and school board posts.
Callihan said school board candidates have been picking up petitions faster than candidates for municipal offices.
“That is interesting since school board members are the only ones who don’t get paid,” county commissioner Ted Tharan said.
“With all of the local offices we could have 300 to 500 candidates but we usually don’t get that and we wind up with a lot of write-ins on the ballot in the primary election,” said Callihan.
She noted a candidate needs 10 write-in votes to qualify to be on the general election ballot in November.
Callihan is concerned that people may be waiting to the last minute to file.
“I am afraid at the end of this we will be swamped with petitions,” she said.
Callihan said she is concerned about the primary election after last year’s election controversies.
“We have three questions on the ballot and when you have that happen you always have delays,” she said. “Keep your fingers crossed that we can get the ballots printed.”
The filing deadline for the May 18 primary is March 9.