All registered voters in the 139 th PA Legislative district will have an opportunity to participate in the Primary Election April 23, due to the Special Election to succeed State Rep. Joseph Adams, who resigned in early February.
Typically, only the members of the two major parties – Republican and Democrat – go to the polls in the spring to nominate their respective candidates for the fall, General
Election, and they will. But the Special Election to serve out the remainder of Rep. Adams’ term through Nov. 30, means all voters, including those registered as Independent or in any other party, can also cast a vote for that office during the Primary Election polling.
“We want to get the word out to those folks, who are not used to going to the polls this time of year, that there will be ballots for them at each precinct in the 139 th District this
spring,” said Commissioner Jocelyn Cramer, who chairs the Wayne County Board of Elections.
The 139 th District consists of Cherry Ridge, Dreher, Lake, Lehigh, Palmyra, Paupack,Salem, South Canaan and Sterling Townships and Hawley Borough in Wayne County as well as the northern half of Pike County. Any registered non-Democrat or Republican voter, can appear at their normal polling locations on Tuesday, April 23, and they will be provided with a ballot containing only the Special Election Race to cast their vote.
For the Republicans and Democrats, the Special Election will be one of several important races on the ballot. Along with party nominations for President, voters will
choose their respective nominees for U.S. Senator and Representative to Congress, State Treasurer, Auditor General and Attorney General and Representative to the PA
General Assembly in the 111 th and the 139 th Districts.
The two individuals chosen by their parties to fill the unexpired term in the 139th District, Democrat Robin Schooley Skibber and Republican Jeff Olsommer, also appear on their
respective ballots vying for the full two-year term beginning in January 2025. Each had filed the appropriate paperwork to appear on the Primary ballot, after Rep. Adams
announced his intention not to run for another term.
“So Democratic and Republican voters in the 139 th District, will actually see that race on their ballots twice: once for the Special Election with both names, and again for the
Primary Election with just the one name,” Commissioner Cramer explained. “But all registered voters in the 139 th can participate in the April Primary, and every voter has
the choice to vote in person or by mail.”
To find your polling location, request a mail-in ballot, get more information and view a sample ballot, once available, visit https://waynecountypa.gov/197/Bureau-Of-Elections
or click on the Bureau of Elections button on the home page at www.WayneCountyPA.gov. You can also reach the office by phone at 570-253-5970
ext. 4003.
–30–