Secretary of the Commonwealth Credits County Election Directors and Their Teams for Administering a Successful Primary Election

"Dedicatedand hard-working county election staffand poll workers across theCommonwealth have again conducted a free, fair, safe and secure election," Schmidt said. "Voters, whether voting by mail or in person at their polling places, also deserve recognition for casting their ballots and ensuring their voices are heard."

Counties received nearly 896,000 mail ballot applications for the primary - more than 795,000applications for no-excuse mail-in ballots and more than 100,000applications for absentee ballots. As of the 8p.m.return deadline, counties hadreceivedmore than 75%of thosecompletedballots.

Pennsylvanians also voted in person today at 9,163 polling places across all 67 counties. Final voter turnout numbers will be available in the coming weeksafter all eligible votes have been counted.

Schmidt credited the Election Directors Training Team, which launched last year and conducted 23trainings on 11 topicsleading up to the primary, for assisting all county election administrators - both new and experienced - to help them better understandtheir responsibilities, primary deadlines,and Election Code requirements.

"The Shapiro Administrationhas been committed to helping all election directors receive the interactive assistance they needed to administer a successful 2024 primary," Schmidtsaid. "Diligent efforts in these trainings by veteran election directors, who selflessly shared their expertise and wisdomwith newer election staff willing to learn, helped pave the way fortoday's success."

Department of State staff answered around 600 callstoday via the Commonwealth's voter hotline (1-877-VOTESPA). Most callers had questions about their voter registration status, polling place location, or mail ballot.That compared withmore than 3,600calls during the 2020 presidential primary.

As unofficial results become available from counties, they will be posted on the Department's improved elections return website.The site provides statewide totals and county-by-county breakdowns of each race by votes cast in person on Primary Day, votes cast by mail ballot (mail-in and absentee combined), and votes cast by provisional ballot.

Schmidtthanked the Department's county, state, and federal partners, including those involved with the Election Threats Task Force, for helping ensure the security of today's presidential primary election.

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