Decision 2025: What primary election voters need to know in Mercer County

 Voters in Mercer County join other Pennsylvanians heading to the polls today for the primary election.

Statewide, voters are deciding on candidates for Superior and Commonwealth Court judges.

In Mercer County, candidates for city, borough, and Township offices are up for grabs, as well as school board directors.

With voting open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be permitted to cast their ballot.

Pennsylvania operates on a closed primary system, meaning only registered Republican voters can vote for Republican candidates and registered Democratic voters can vote for Democratic candidates. The candidates who garner the highest number of votes in their respective primaries will advance to the general election.

What to expect:

Upon arrival at your polling place, voters will check in with poll workers.

To find your local polling place, voters can visit the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx.

The Mercer County government website also provides a list of polling locations at https://www.mercercountypa.gov/election/Precincts/polls.htm.

Voters generally do not need to show identification at the polls unless it is their first time voting at a new polling place. If so, an approved form of identification is required.

Approved forms of photo identification include:

• Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card
• ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
• ID issued by the U.S. Government
• U.S. passport
• U.S. Armed Forces ID
• Student ID
• Employee ID

If a photo ID is not available, approved non-photo IDs that include your name and address are acceptable:

• Confirmation or voter registration card issued by your county elections office
• Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
• Non-photo ID issued by the federal government
• Firearm permit
• Current utility bill
• Current bank statement
• Current paycheck
• Government check

A list of candidates who filed for office in the 2025 Municipal Primary Election can be accessed by following the link below:

https://www.mercercountypa.gov/election/ElectionGuides/2025.PRIMARY.Candidate.Information.pdf