ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Voters in parts of the city and Salisbury Township will head to the polls today to elect a new state representative.
And potentially flip Pennsylvania state politics on its head.
Local residents will choose between Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. to represent Pennsylvania's 22nd state House District for the next nine months.
The winner will complete the term of Josh Siegel, who resigned the position in December to become Lehigh County executive.
The candidates this month participated in a debate organized by Lehigh Valley Public Media and hosted by the Da Vinci Science Center.
It served as one of the few opportunities for voters to hear from the two candidates, who were selected by their parties instead of a traditional primary election.
Along with a race for Pennsylvania's 42nd state House District in Allegheny County, the race is among two special elections in Pennsylvania today.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in both races.
Location of polls, mail-in ballots
The 22nd District represents the eastern portion of Salisbury Township, the neighborhood of East Allentown and parts of the city's Center City neighborhood.
Local polling places have shifted for the special election, and voters may find themselves heading to different spots than usual to cast their ballots.
Lehigh County residents planning to vote in person should first confirm their polling place's address through the county website. Residents using the state's polling place locator tool may find themselves at the wrong spot.
Lehigh County Elections Office
Lehigh County residents planning to vote in person should first confirm their polling place's address through the county website. Residents using the state's polling place locator tool may find themselves at the wrong spot.
Mail-in ballots are due by 8 p.m. and must be in the county's possession by the deadline in order to be counted.
Voters are instructed not to mail their ballots this close to the special election.
Anyone who requested a mail-in ballot but hasn't returned it yet should drop the ballot off at one of three dropbox locations:
- Lehigh County Government Center at 17 S. 7th St., Allentown. The drop box will be available until the 8 p.m. deadline.
- Coca-Cola Park's Administrative Office at 1050 IronPigs Way, Allentown. The drop box is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Salisbury Township School District Administrative Building at 1140 Salisbury Road, Salisbury Township. The drop box is available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
As of Friday morning, 916 mail-in ballots remained outstanding of the 1,271 sent out by the county.
District leans heavily Democratic
The 22nd state House District has the greatest partisan lean among the Lehigh Valley's 11 state House districts.
Party registration figures show Democrats have an overwhelming advantage, making Smith a significant underdog.
However, some prominent Lehigh County Democrats have been openly critical of Tiburcio's nomination.
Pennsylvania currently has five vacant House seats, granting Democrats a two-seat majority.
Democrats hold significant advantages in today's two races while Republicans are the heavy favorites for the three other races scheduled later this spring.
If Republicans win one of Tuesday's elections, they would be in position to regain full control of the General Assembly for the final months of the legislative session.