Primary Election 2024: Voter Guide For Eastern Montco

EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA —Democrats and Republicans in Eastern Montgomery County will go to the polls Tuesday to choose the candidates from their respective parties to represent them in the November general election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you are in line to vote when the polls close, do not leave the line. Everyone in line to vote before the polls close will get a chance to vote.

For the most part, the races in the primary election are uncontested, meaning there is only one party candidate for state representative and other elected offices.

With this being a presidential primary election, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and former President Donald Trump, a Republican, are also on their party's ballots.

There are also candidates running for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Auditor General, Pennsylvania State Treasurer, State Senator, and State Representative.

Since it's a presidential primary election, all schools will be closed as well.

The only contested race on the eastern Montgomery County ballot will play out in Horsham Township on the Republican ticket for Congress.

Incumbent Republican moderate Brian Fitzpatrick, who has held the seat since 2017, faces a challenge from conservative Republican Mark Houck.

Houck won notoriety when he was arrested at his Upper Bucks County home and indicted for assaulting a reproductive health care worker in 2022. He was later acquitted of the charges.

The winner of the Republican primary race will face Democrat Ashley Ehasz, who is running uncontested on Tuesday.

Fitzpatrick defeated Ehasz in the 2022 general election by nine percentage points.

Montgomery County has launched an election tip line for any issues that need to be reported on Tuesday.

Who Is On The Ballot

U.S. Senator

• Democrat Robert Casey
• Republican Dave McCormick

U.S. Congress - 1st District (Horsham Township)

• Democrat Ashley Ehasz
• Republican Brian Fitzpatrick
• Republican Mark Houck

U.S. Congress - 1st District (Horsham Township)

• Democrat Madeleine Dean
• Republican David Winkler

151st Legislative District

• Democrat Melissa Cerrato
• Republican Allen Arthur Anderson

152nd Legislative District

• Democrat Nancy Guenst

153rd Legislative District

• Democrat Ben Sanchez
• Republican Joseph J. Rooney

Mail-In Ballot Boxes

There are 12 at locations in Montgomery County and three at county government offices.

Voting In Person

When voting in person and after checking in at your polling place, a poll worker will direct you to a voting station after providing you with a ballot and a pen. You must fill in your votes, clearly and fully marking your choice (filling in the oval) on the paper ballot.

Review your selections and make sure you’ve voted in all the contests you wish to vote in and then print off your ballot.

Check that your printed ballot is correct. If there are any errors, notify a poll worker so your ballot can be spoiled, and you can vote again.

Once finished, you will be directed with your paper ballot to a voting machine to process your votes.

Take your correct and printed ballot to a nearby scanner and scan it in. The screen will notify you if your ballot was successfully cast. Notify a poll worker if you have any error messages after scanning your ballot.

Showing Identification

First-time voters, or previous voters using a new polling place for the first time, must present some form of identification to poll workers. A full list of acceptable IDs, like a Pennsylvania Drivers’ License or PennDOT ID Card, is available online at vote.pa.gov. If you forgot your ID and are a first-time voter at that polling place, do not leave. You can request to vote by provisional ballot.

Emergency Voting

Voters with a sudden illness or other emergency can apply for an emergency absentee ballot after 5 p.m. the Tuesday before an election. More information about emergency absentee ballots can be found at votes.pa.gov.