Mark your calendars because next Tuesday, May 17, is primary election day, and if you go to circle that date and find a conflict, you’ll want to request a mail-in ballot by the end of Tuesday, May 10.

There are important contests on the ballot, but unfortunately, the primary election — and even November elections without a presidential contest on the ballot — don’t get much of a turnout.

In the days following the election in November 2021, the Butler Eagle reported voter turnout hit 33%. It was reported that only 44,630 of the 134,743 registered county voters cast a ballot.

Voter turnout for last May’s primary was less than in November, with 28% of eligible voters casting a ballot. That’s low, but it actually was higher than county solicitor Wil White expected, the Butler Eagle reported. White had predicted 15% to 20%.

In next week’s election, contested races include the primary for U.S. Senate; the Republican primaries for the state House 8th, 11th and 12th districts and the Democratic primary for the Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District.

Perhaps the most notable race of the primary election is the one that will fill the job that will be left since Sen. Pat Toomey is not running again. Both the Democrat and Republican parties have numerous candidates who will face off next week in the primary for that seat. The winners of each party will face each other in November.

So if you can’t make it in person to vote next Tuesday, be sure to request a mail-in ballot by the end of Tuesday.

And remember, mail-in ballots must be received by 8 p.m. May 17, primary election day. Any ballots received after that time will not be counted — even if postmarked by then.

Plan ahead, or plan to hand-deliver your ballot to the county elections office by 8 p.m. this coming Tuesday.

— TL