Clearfield, Jefferson, and Elk Counties, PA – Get out and vote on Tuesday, May 21 for the primary municipal elections!
Primary elections set the stage for the general election later, Nov. 5. You are only able to vote in primaries if you are registered as a Republican or a Democrat, and you will only be able to vote for who will represent your specific party on November’s ballot. However, many candidates running for smaller offices will appear on both ballots, and you can always write-in a name if you don’t see it.
This is also a municipal election, meaning the majority of what you’ll see on the ballot are more local seats, such as county commissioners, district attorney, school board, mayor, and borough council members.
In the presidential election of 2016, around 70 percent of people voted. However, when it comes to primaries and especially for more local elections like this one, the turnout can drop as low as around 25 percent. Your vote can make the difference.
Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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VOTING INFO – WHEN, WHERE, WHAT TO BRING
When can I vote?
Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Registered voters who are in line at 8 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.
Where can I vote?
Your polling place depends on where you live. Most polling places are public buildings where large crowds can gather, such as town halls, fire stations, schools, church centers or community centers. To find your exact polling location, visit votespa.com and click on the “Find my polling place” link on the right side of the page.
City of DuBois:
- First Ward – Friendship Hose House
- Second Ward – Christ Lutheran Church
- Third Ward – DuBois Hose House No. 3
- Fourth Ward – Fourth Ward Hose House
- Fifth Ward – Goodwill Fire Hall
Sandy Township:
- Falls Creek area – Adrian Sandy Fire Company
- West Sandy Township – West Sandy Fire Hall
- Oklahoma area – Oklahoma Fire Company
- Treasure Lake area – Treasure Lake Fire Company
- Sabula area – Hickory Grange
Other locations:
- Reynoldsville – Reynoldsville Fire Hall
- Brady Township – Brady Community Building
- Union Township – Union Township Fire Hall
- Bloom Township – Blown Township Building
- Edge of Reynoldsville / Winslow Township – Winslow Township Municipal Building
- Sykesville – Town Hall
- Big Run – Big Run War Memorial
- Brookville – Heritage House
- Edge of Brookville / Polk Township – Polk Township Municipal Building
- Edge of Brookville / Pine Creek Township – Pine Creek Fire Department
- Brockway – Brockwayville Depot
What do I need to bring?
You do not need your voter registration card, but you will need to have previously registered and be able to know your voting location. If you are voting in an election district for the first time, you will need an approved form of identification, either photo or non-photo. No other voter will be asked to present an ID.
Other ways of seeing who is on your ballot:
Clearfield County – Select your precinct at the Clearfield County Courthouse website and see a sample ballot (your precinct is listed on your voter registration card)
Jefferson County – Go to the Jefferson County Courthouse website to see what a ballot looks like. The real ballot will also the representatives for your specific district, which are not shown on this sample.
Elk County – The Elk County Courthouse website has information about your polling location and other election information. You can also see who is on the ballot at their sample ballot.
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The offices:
Judge of the Superior Court is a 10-year term. They review most of the civil and criminal cases that are appealed from the courts of common pleas in Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
County commissioner is a 4-year term. They help enact and administer local ordinances. They hire county employees, approve budgets, oversee planning and zoning, and are in charge of local county spending on things like law enforcement, road maintenance, recreation and parks services, and deciding the property tax rates for the county.
District attorney is a 4-year term. They work alongside law enforcement to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes, file criminal charges, and bring evidence before a Grand Jury.
Register and recorder preserves records and resolutions for property, deeds, mortgages, and any record of property ownership. They also maintain record pertaining to estates, inheritance taxes, and wills. It is a 4-year term.
Treasurers send tax bills, collect overdue payment, and disperse money to the appropriate agencies. It is a 4-year term.
County auditors are responsible for the financial books and records of county offices. They enforce the county’s finance laws, advise the commissioners on the area’s financial status, and enforces the budget.
The sheriff works alongside local police to enforce law at a county level, patrol for crime, and issues warrants and foreclosures.
Offices we are not listing individually: township supervisors, borough council, and school board members. These candidates will be on your ballot based on where you live within your county and whether you are a Democrat or Republican.
We suggest you visit the sample ballots on the county websites to see your exact ballot and research the candidates. You may also want to consider looking at the other party’s ballot to see if a candidate is listed there that you would like to vote for as a write-in.
Other ways of seeing who is on your ballot:
Clearfield County – Select your precinct at the Clearfield County Courthouse website and see a sample ballot (your precinct is listed on your voter registration card)
Jefferson County – Go to the Jefferson County Courthouse website to see what a ballot looks like. The real ballot will also the representatives for your specific district, which are not shown on this sample.
Elk County – The Elk County Courthouse website has information about your polling location and other election information. You can also see who is on the ballot at their sample ballot.
Statewide on the ballot
Judge of the Superior Court
Democrats: Beth Tarsi from Allegheny County, Daniel McCaffery from Philadelphia County, and Amanda Green Hawkins from Allegheny County are all running.
Republicans: Rebecca Warren from Luzerne County, Megan McCarthy King from Chester County, and Christylee Peck from Cumberland County are all running.
Clearfield County
County Commissioners for Clearfield County
Democrats: David Glass from DuBois, Lisa Kovalick of Girard Township, and David Twoey from Woodward Township.
Republicans: Tony Scotto from DuBois and John Sobel from Lawrence Township are running for re-election. Joseph Bigar Jr. from Sandy Township, R. Bryan Snyder from Morris Township, and Edward Walsh from DuBois are running for their place on the ballot.
District Attorney for Clearfield County
Democrats: William Shaw Jr. from Pine Township, the current DA, is running for reelection.
Republicans: Ryan Sayers from Clearfield and Warren Mikesell II from Clearfield.
County Treasurer for Clearfield County
Democrat Carol Fox from Burnside Township runs unopposed.
Register and recorder for Clearfield County
Republican Maureen Inlow from Lawrence Township seeks reelection and is running unopposed.
Jefferson County
County Commissioners for Jefferson County
Democrats: Jeffery Pisarcik from Sykesville is running for reelection. Kelly Harriger from Brookville is running for his place on the ballot.
Republicans: Herbert Bullers Jr. from Brookville and John “Jack” Matson from Brookville are running for re-election.
County Auditor for Jefferson County
Democrats: B. Jean Shaw from Punxsutawney is running.
Republicans: Douglas Kougher from Reynoldsville and Edward McGinnis Jr. from Punxsutawney are running.
Register and recorder for Jefferson County
Democrats: None are listed on the Democratic ballot.
Republicans: Frank Bartley from Brookville, Brianna Bullers from Brookville, Donna Cooper from Falls Creek, Scott North from Punxsutawney, and Brandi Yeaney from Summerville are all running.
Sheriff for Jefferson County
Democrats: Paul Pape from Punxsutawney is running.
Republicans: Janice Bart from Brockway and Carl Gotwalf Sr. from Punxsutawney are running.
Elk County
County Commissioners for Elk County
Democrats: Matthew Quesenberry Sr. from St. Marys is running for reelection. Roger Rinker VonArx from Jones Township and Raymond Krise Jr. from Fox Township are both seeking their spot on the ballot.
Republicans: Janis Kemmer from Ridgway is running for reelection. Joe Daghir from St. Marys, Lyle Garner from St. Marys, M. Fritz Lecker from St. Marys, and Seth Higgins from St. Marys are also running.
County Auditor for Elk County
Democrats: Kathy Morton McMahon from Ridgway is running.
Republicans: Sandra Caltagarone from St. Marys, Daniel Jones from Jay Township, Kim Gaylor Eckert from Ridgway, and Jean Zore from St. Marys are all running.
Register and recorder for Elk County
Democrats: Ron Beimel from Fox Township is running.
Republicans: Lee Neureiter from Fox Township and Mark Cunningham from St. Marys are running.
County treasurer for Elk County
Democrats: Peggy Brown Schneider from Ridgway is running.
Republicans: Matthew Frey from St. Marys is running.
Sheriff for Jefferson County
Democrats: No candidates are listed.
Republicans: Todd Caltagarone from St. Marys is running.
