Westmoreland County special election for House 58th District still scheduled Tuesday

Tuesday’s special election to fill the vacant 58th District state House seat is expected to be held as scheduled, despite widespread cancellations and shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The health scare has resulted in two polling locations, one in Rostraver and another in South Huntingdon, being moved at the last minute while replacements are being sought for dozens of poll workers who withdrew from service over the last few days, said Beth Lechman, director of Westmoreland County’s Elections Bureau.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the 66 precincts that make up the 58th District, which includes Adamsburg, Arona and East Huntingdon as well as parts of Hempfield, Jeannette, Madison, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Belle Vernon, Penn Borough, Rostraver, Sewickley, Smithton, South Huntingdon, Sutersville and West Newton.

Democrat Robert Prah Jr., Republican Eric Davanzo and Libertarian Ken Bach are seeking to fill the remaining nine months in the term of former state Rep. Justin Walsh, a Republican who resigned in January after becoming a Common Pleas judge.

Lechman said an election that was already expected to see a low participation could see turnout reach just 10% because of coronavirus fears.

Voters will see substantial safety efforts. Lechman said polls workers will wear gloves and each voting machine will be cleaned and sanitized after every use.

Elections bureau offices were deluged with calls on Monday asking about the status of the special election, with some expressing concern about the propriety of holding an election during the coronavirus scare.

“We’re giving (Speaker of the House) Mike Turzai’s office number and other county legislators phone numbers for people to call and complain,” Lechman said. “They are the only ones who have control over whether a special election is held.”

• Two polling locations at local schools closed because of coronavirus had to be relocated:Voters who cast ballots in the South Huntingdon precinct previously located at Yough Intermediate School will now vote at the Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department at 90 Supervisor Drive.

• The Rostraver Crossroads precinct that had been at the Belle Vernon School District administrative building was relocated to the Collinsburg Fire Hall at 514 Hickory Lane in Rostraver.

Elections officials also struggled to find precinct poll workers. More than 20 people scheduled to work during the special election called off over the last several days, Lechman said.

“We’re calling around and making a plan for college students who are home, since they are less susceptible, to see if they are willing to work. We’re also looking to see if we can use county employees,” Lechman said. Poll workers are desperately needed in Monessen, but positions are also available throughout the district, she said. Positions pay $95 to $130 for the day.

Anyone interested can contact the county at 724-830-3564 or apply online at the county’s website.

The special election will be the first time the county’s new election equipment will be used; it was bought last year. Votes will be cast initially on touch-screen computers. Each machine will print a completed ballot, which voters will manually insert into digital scanning devices.