Pa. Delays Primary Election Until June 2

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously agreed Tuesday, March 24, on a plan delaying the state’s primary election until June 2 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Bill 422 heads back to the upper chamber for a concurrence vote Wednesday. House lawmakers gutted the original proposal and replaced it with language rescheduling the April 28 election for June 2 on Tuesday afternoon.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they support the move as Gov. Tom Wolf tightens restrictions on public life across the state in response to growing numbers of residents infected with COVID-19. The Department of Health confirmed 851 cases in 40 counties on Tuesday, with seven deaths reported so far.

Wolf extended his “stay at home” order to Erie County later the same day. He said the mitigation effort – already in effect in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Monroe and Philadelphia counties – will help slow the virus’s spread. Nonessential businesses have been under a shutdown order since 8 a.m. Monday, as well.

As of Tuesday, March 24, the state Department of Health confirmed 851 residents had tested positive for COVID-19 and seven have died.

“I think that members of the Legislature understand that counties have been asking for a postponement,” Wolf said. “It’s hard to train poll workers who are reluctant to come in for training. We’ve had robust conversation but not an agreement at this point.”

Editor’s Note: Information for this story was obtained on Tuesday, March 24. Events might have occurred by the time this is published in the Herald.