Pennsylvania legislators approve moving primary election to June 2

Pennsylvania’s General Assembly on Wednesday voted unanimously to shift the state’s primary election five weeks into the future, postponing it from April 28 until June 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state House took first action, giving final approval to legislation that also allows county boards of elections to consolidate polling places by up to 60%, allowing the primary to be held with fewer poll workers.

“I think between moving the date back and expanding the ability of our county election officials to cope with this problem that we’ve done a lot of good,” said State Rep. Garth Everett (R., Lycoming), the chair of the House State Government Committee, before the vote. State Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat and minority chairman of the committee, supported the legislation but said “it doesn’t go far enough.” Boyle wanted funding for counties to send every registered voter an application for mail-in ballots, an approach Republicans rejected.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) expressed optimism the situation will have improved by June 2. “We hope things will have cleared up and we’ll be able to vote in person that day better than we would have on April 28,” he said.

The state Senate then swiftly approved the measure, which has the support of Gov. Wolf. A spokesperson said Wolf would sign it into law. The vote drew bipartisan praise from Philadelphia’s City Commissioners, who said an April 28 primary “was becoming more and more unrealistic.” Twelve states and Puerto Rico have taken action so far to alter their election calendars due to the pandemic and more states are still mulling such moves.

— Chris Brennan

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200325.html#card-651948800