Special Election Machine Testing

Luzerne County Elections is conducting a public test of its voting equipment for the April 5, 2022 Special Election. The public test begins Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the voting equipment warehouse at 135 Water Street in Wilkes-Barre. The public are welcome to attend and view the test. The exact end time depends on the test itself. We anticipate spending two business days on the test.

 Logic and accuracy testing (commonly referred to as LAT or L&A) is a series of pre-election steps intended to ensure that ballots, scanners, ballot marking devices, and any component of a county’s certified voting system are properly configured and in good working order prior to being used in an election.

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS AND NOTARIES

CALENDAR FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD APRIL 5, 2022 REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE 116TH DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY OF LUZERNE

1. Writ, prepared by presiding officer, served on the Secretary of the Commonwealth .........................................January 10, 2022 (At least 60 days prior to the special election. 25 P.S. § 2778) 

2. First day for political parties and minor political parties to nominate candidates by filing nomination certificates..............................................January 10, 2022 (25 P.S. § 2779) 

3. First day for political bodies to circulate and file nomination papers nominating candidates....................................................................January 10, 2022 (25 P.S. § 2779) 

4. Last day to file nomination certificates and nomination papers................................................................................... February 14, 2022 (50 days prior to date of special election. 25 P.S. § 2779) 

5. Last day to file objections: 3 days after the deadline for filing ............... February 17, 2022 (25 P.S. § 2782) 

6. Last day for Commonwealth Court to set a hearing on objections: 7 days after deadline for filing ................ February 22, 2022 (25 P.S. § 2782) (Because February 21, 2022, is a legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day, which is February 22, 2022. 25 P.S. § 2603(e)). 

7. Last day to withdraw: 7 days after the deadline for filing ......... February 22, 2022 (25 P.S. § 2783) (Because February 21, 2022, is a legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day, which is February 22, 2022. 25 P.S. § 2603(e)). 

8. Last day to file substituted nomination certificates: 7 days after the deadline for filing................ February 22, 2022 (25 P.S. §2784(c)) (Because February 21, 2022, is a legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day, which is February 22, 2022. 25 P.S. § 2603(e)). 

9. Last day to file objections to substituted nominations: 3 days after substituted nomination certificate is filed ..................... Depends on filing date (25 P.S. § 2785) 

10. Last day for Secretary of the Commonwealth to certify names and residence of all candidates................................................ March 6, 2022 (30th day preceding the day fixed for the special election. 25 P.S. § 2786) 

11. Last day to register to vote before the election............................................March 21, 2022 (15 days before the special election. 25 P.S. § 3071(b)) 

12. Last day before the election on which official applications for civilian absentee and mail-in ballots may be received by the county board of elections ....................................................................................................... March 29, 2022 (Tuesday before special election. 25 P.S. §§ 3146.2a(a), 3150.12a(a)) 

13. All civilian absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections no later than 8:00 P.M. on this day to be counted............................................April 5, 2022 (On the day of the special election. 25 P.S. § 3146.6(a)) 

14. All mail-in ballots must be received by the county board of elections no later than 8:00 P.M. on this day to be counted............................................April 5, 2022 (On the day of the special election. 25 P.S. § 3150.16(c)) 

15. Last day for county boards of elections to receive voted military and overseas absentee ballots ...............................................................................April 12, 2022 (By 5:00 P.M. on the 7th day following a primary or election and must be voted no later than 11:59 P.M. on April 4th, 25 P.S. § 3146.8(g)(1) & 25 Pa.C.S. § 3511(a)).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 A. Political Parties, including Minor Political Parties, file nomination certificates, nominating candidates in accordance with party rules. 

B. Candidates of political bodies file nomination papers, obtaining signatures equal to 2% of the largest vote cast for any elected officer in that district at the last preceding election or the number of signatures required on a nomination petition for a political party candidate, whichever is greater. Signers of such papers must be qualified, registered electors of the district. The number of signatures required on nomination papers to be filed by candidates of political bodies for the Special Election for the 116th Legislative District is 384. All nomination papers must be accompanied by a properly completed candidate's affidavit and a copy of the Statement of Financial Interests required to be filed with the State Ethics Commission. In addition, a filing fee of $100.00 must be submitted with each set of nomination papers and must be paid by certified check or money order payable to the “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” 

NOTE: The Election Code provides that no person “who is a registered and enrolled member of a party (shall) be eligible to be the candidate of a political body for a special election.” 25 P.S. § 2911.1. 

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING DEADLINES 

Report                                                                 Complete Up To And Including                                     Filing Deadline*

2nd Friday Pre-Election                                                       March 21, 2022                                                             March 25, 2022 

(Complete as of 15 days prior to the special election. 25 P.S. § 3246(d)). 

24 Hour Reporting                                                         March 22, 2022 (begins)                                              April 5, 2022 (ends/includes) 

25 P.S. § 3248 

30 Day Post-Election                                                             April 15, 2022                                                                May 5, 2022 

(Complete as of 10 days after the special election. 25 P.S. § 3246(e)) 

*Postmarks are acceptable as proof of timely filing when reports are postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than the day before the filing deadline.

ETHICS LAW INFORMATION 

All candidates for the Special Election must file Statements of Financial Interests with the State Ethics Commission and a copy of the Statement of Financial Interests with their nomination certificates or nomination papers. For further information, please call the State Ethics Commission at (717) 783- 1610.