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Q & A: How to Vote in Special Elections

Special Election Date: March 25, 2025

Last Day to Register to Vote: March 10 by 5:00 pm PA online registration
Last Day to Request a Mail-in Ballot: March 18 by 5:00 pm Mail-in Ballot Request

This election will fill a vacancy in the State House of Representatives:

District 35 became vacant with the death of Rep. Matt Gergely.

All Registered Voters in PA House District 35 may vote in the Special Election.
This Election is not a primary, so you can vote whether you are registered in a political party or not.

Find Your District: Do you live in PA House District 35?

Find your PA House District using one of these tools:

Enter your address at Vote411.org to see your complete "political address," including your PA State Representative district. Candidate information and survey responses will also be available at this link closer to the election.

PA Voter Registration Status Check

Enter your name and birthdate or PA Driver's License number to check your voter registration status. The status report will contain your voting districts, along with your polling place, your mail-in ballot request status, and other information.

Candidate Information

PA State House District 35

Candidates:

Democratic

Dan Goughnour

Republican

Charles Davis

Libertarian

Adam Kitta

Where is the 35th District?

The 35th Legislative district contains Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport, South Versailles, Homestead, Liberty, Lincoln, Munhall, Port Vue, Versailles, West Homestead, Whitaker and White Oak, and part of West Mifflin.

Map created using the tools at Dave's Redistricting.

Special Election Q & A: Information for Voters

Q. What is the date of the Special Election?
A. Special Election will be held Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Q. Is the Special Election a Primary?
A. No. The Special Election determines the final result. The winner will take office immediately, and serve the remainder of the current term, which ends November 30, 2026.

Q. Who can vote in a Special Election?
A.  All registered voters who live in PA House District 35, whether or not they are registered in a political party, can vote in the special election.

Q. How are the candidates chosen without a Primary?
A. Instead of holding a primary election, the political parties nominate candidates directly according to internal party rules. Candidate nominations must be filed by February 3.

Q. Where do I vote in a Special Election?
A. You can vote in person at your usual polling place between 7 am and 8 pm. All precincts in the district will be open for the special election.

Q. Can I use a mail-in ballot for a Special Election?
A.  Yes. Mail-in ballots will be available for the special election. You must submit your request for a mail-in ballot by 5:00 pm on March 18. The online request form is available here: Mail-in Ballot Request

Q. Can I use the same mail-in ballot request form used for regularly scheduled elections?
A.  Yes. You use the same form, and fill out a request for a Primary ballot. If you submit your ballot request before the Special Election deadline (and live in the 35th State House District,) you will receive mail-in ballots for both the Special Election and the Primary. If you submit the request after the Special Election deadline, you will receive a ballot for the May 20 Primary Election only. (If you don't want a mail-in ballot for the Primary, you can cancel the request after the Special Election or take the Primary ballot to your polling place on Primary Day, surrender it, and vote in person.)

Q. If I am on the "Annual List" for mail-in ballots in 2025, will I receive a ballot for this Special Election?
A.   Yes. If you have already completed an annual ballot request for 2025, you will receive a mail-in ballot for any election in which you are eligible to vote up through the third Monday in February of 2026.

Accordion Widget

More Q & A: Click here to get into the weeds with the PA Election Code for Special Elections

Q. Can "third parties" nominate candidates for a special election?

A. Yes. Pennsylvania recognizes two "major political parties" - Democratic, and Republican - and two "minor parties" - the Green and Libertarian parties. Local leaders and representatives of these parties meet to choose candidates for the special election. Nominating certificates are signed by party representatives.

All other "third parties" in Pennsylvania are considered "political bodies," and they follow a different process. "Political bodies" may nominate candidates by collecting and filing signatures of registered voters in their districts on nominating papers . The number of voter signatures required is different for each office.

Q. How are Special Election dates determined?

A. For PA State House seats, the Speaker of the House may choose a date within a window of time defined in the Pennsylvania Election Code. The window is based on two dates -- the date that the vacancy becomes official, and the date of the next regularly scheduled Primary or General Election.

When a vacancy occurs in the first 17 months of the 2-year term, the Speaker of the House has 10 days to announce a Special Election date and issue a "Writ of Election" to the county or counties that will be required to hold the election.
The date must be at least 60 days after the "Writ of Election" is issued. This allows time for political parties to nominate candidates, and for county election boards to prepare ballots and polling places, and notify voters of the election.
The last day to schedule the Special Election is the next Primary or General Election scheduled after the 60 day preparation period.
If a vacancy occurs in the final 7 months of the 2-year term, the Speaker of the House is not obligated to call for a special election. The vacancy will be filled by the upcoming General Election for the seat.