Lehigh County Pennsylvania Primary Marred by Poor Turnout, Late Reporting

The recent municipal primaries in Lehigh County saw a significant portion of votes cast via mail-in ballots, with over 2 of every 5 votes arriving this way, and most counted early in the night which limited opportunities for trailing candidates to catch up. Despite some competitive races, such as mayoral contests and county executive primaries, voter turnout was lower than expected and marked the lowest since the introduction of mail-in voting in 2020, suggesting participation remains primarily among party loyalists. In Pennsylvania, primary elections featured local races for mayor, school board, city council, and judicial offices, with some larger cities also selecting candidates for county executive and district attorney positions. The state's closed primary system restricts voting in Republican and Democratic primaries to registered party members, excluding independents and third-party voters. Polling places were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with provisions for those in line at closing time, and voters were generally not required to show ID unless voting for the first time at a new location. These local election details highlight ongoing challenges in expanding voter engagement despite the availability of mail-in ballots and the importance of down-ballot races to daily life.