Pennsylvanians head to the polls for primary election

Voters across Pennsylvania are heading to the polls today for the state's primary election. Because Pennsylvania operates under a closed primary system, only registered Republicans and Democrats are permitted to cast ballots for their respective party nominees, though all registered voters are eligible to vote on any local ballot questions. On the ballot this year are key races for the United States House of Representatives, lieutenant governor, State Senate, and State House. In Luzerne County, voters will notice a change today as they cast their votes using a pen and paper before inserting their completed ballots into a digital tabulator. The county previously utilized touchscreen ballot-marking machines, but ongoing computer, programming, and paper issues prompted officials to switch to hand-marked paper ballots to minimize technical troubleshooting and ensure a smoother voting process. Polling places across the Commonwealth opened at 7 a.m. this morning and will remain open until 8 p.m. this evening.