Pennsylvania Counties Face Challenges in Changing 2024 Primary Date

Counties in Pennsylvania are voicing their concerns to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and lawmakers, emphasizing the logistical challenges of moving up the state’s 2024 presidential primary date. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, in a letter, has stated that there is insufficient time for counties to successfully execute the tasks associated with changing the current primary date set in law, which is April 23.

The proposal to change the primary date arose, in part, to avoid a conflict with the Jewish holiday of Passover. However, this issue has become embroiled in partisan and intraparty disagreements, with Senate Republicans advocating for moving the date as a means to give Pennsylvania more influence in deciding 2024’s presidential nominees.

County officials explain that they are already actively preparing for the 2023 election, which is less than five weeks away, and have dedicated many months of planning to hold the 2024 primary election on April 23. Lisa Schaefer, the executive director of the County Commissioners Association, conveyed the counties’ stance, stating, “While we thank the General Assembly and the administration for their thoughtful discussions around this matter, at this date counties can no longer guarantee there will be sufficient time to make the changes necessary to assure a primary on a different date would be successful.”

Governor Josh Shapiro has supported changing the primary date to avoid scheduling it during Passover, but his administration has not publicly addressed the ongoing legislative battle over the date change. Lawmakers, particularly Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, are still actively engaged in the discussion. Pittman insists on the Senate’s preferred date of March 19, in contrast to the House’s proposal of April 2.

The potential move of the primary date presents several challenges for counties. These include rescheduling over 9,000 polling places, often contracted a year or more in advance, which includes schools that plan days off for teacher training. Additionally, schools might need to adjust their academic calendars, which is a complex task in the middle of the school year. Counties would also need to reschedule tens of thousands of poll workers, many of whom had arranged their schedules around the original April 23 date.

Moreover, Pennsylvania, a battleground state in the presidential elections, is grappling with former President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims about a stolen election. This has created a hostile environment for county elections staff, leading to “unprecedented turnover,” according to Schaefer. Changing the primary date at this late stage could further complicate the 2024 election process and results, potentially leading to additional controversy and challenges.

Senate Republicans had initially supported moving the date five weeks earlier to March 19 in an effort to increase Pennsylvania’s relevance in selecting presidential nominees. However, House Democrats countered with a proposal to move the date to April 2, two days after Easter. Senate Republicans are echoing the concerns of county election officials who believe that the Easter connection could complicate the process of placing voting machines and election materials in churches that serve as polling places.

House Republicans, on the other hand, opposed changing the date, arguing that it could disrupt the smooth administration of the primary election. Critics also suggested that an earlier primary date might protect incumbent lawmakers by giving primary challengers less time to prepare and that presidential nominees for 2024 will be virtually decided well before March 19.

As the debate over Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary date continues, it remains to be seen whether any resolution can be reached amid these logistical and political challenges. The outcome of this debate will likely have significant implications for the state’s role in the upcoming presidential election. Stay tuned for further developments in this ongoing story.