Northwest Pennsylvania's Ballot Starts With the Governor's Race

From Erie's bayfront to the grape rows of North East, Erie County's ballot on Tuesday is topped by statewide stakes. Voters choose a Governor and Lieutenant Governor — the Democratic ticket of Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis against the Republican ticket of Stacy Garrity and Jason Richey — in the race that controls the state agencies and budget priorities reaching Pennsylvania's northwest corner.

The congressional and Harrisburg races below it carry Erie's specific interests: lake shore protection and port investment, state funding for the Erie School District, and the road money that keeps I-90, I-79 and I-86 moving through lake-effect winters. Erie County's voters choose their U.S. House member, their Pennsylvania House members, and Pennsylvania senators in the districts on this year's cycle, plus ballot questions that reward a preview at vote.pa.gov.

The northwest corner votes its geography. A region closer to two other states' capitals than its own tends to judge Harrisburg on delivery — which is why turnout in Erie, Millcreek, Fairview and Girard matters out of proportion to the county's size when statewide races are close.

Polls are open Tuesday, November 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., anyone in line by 8 p.m. may vote, and results will post after polls close at electionreturns.pa.gov. Mail ballots must be received by the county board of elections by 8 p.m. Tuesday — the postmark does not count.

Northwest Pennsylvania also votes on the machinery of the election itself this year: county government runs the polling places and counts the ballots, and Erie County's voter services at the courthouse handle registration questions through Election Day. However the statewide margins land, the count that decides them will run through rooms in downtown Erie like every other county seat in the commonwealth.