As the May 16 primary election approaches, the Venango County elections office is testing all the county’s voting machines this week.
On Wednesday, county elections officials Melanie Bailey and Sabrina Backer began testing the ADA voting machines for people with hearing or visual impairments in the courthouse basement.
They will move on today to testing all 44 voting machines and a high speed ballot scanner. Every oval on every ballot on every machine is tested before every election.
Anna added that she has received another 300 requests for mail-in ballots for the November election from people who aren’t registered as either a Republican or Democrat.
The May 16 primary in Pennsylvania is a closed primary, meaning only registered Republicans and Democrats can cast ballots for their candidates.
Successful nominees for the offices will then move on to the general election in November.
Bailey said the election preparations are going well.
Anyone interested in being a poll worker can contact Bailey at (814) 432-9512.
Minor political parties and independents may submit their nominees for elective office this summer for placement on the November ballot.
May 1 is the last day to register to vote before the primary, and May 9 is the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot.
All mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 p.m. on primary election day.
The last day to register to vote before the Nov. 7 general election is Oct. 23.
Venango County ballots will be highlighted next month by races for both Common Pleas judge positions, all three county commissioner jobs and some other county row offices.
There will also be races for a district judge seat, Oil City mayor, Franklin City Council, Cranberry Township supervisor and many other borough and township posts.
