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Chester County readies for May 20 primary after water damage to 10 voting machines; board appoints poll workers
Summary
At a May 16 meeting the Chester County Election Board confirmed May 20 primary hours, reported 10 voting machines were damaged by stormwater and replaced with certified spares, and unanimously approved appointments of poll workers and a return board.
The Chester County Election Board on May 16 told voters the municipal primary is Tuesday, May 20, with polls and drop boxes open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and reported that 10 voting machines were damaged in a May 5 stormwater pipe break and were swapped with certified spare machines.
Director Barsoom, Voter Services director, said the board certified the voter registration number for the election as "38200013" and that about "37,000 close to 38,000 ballots" were sent while roughly "20,000 ballots" had been returned. "Election day is Tuesday, May 20. The polls and the drop boxes will be open from 7AM until 8PM," Barsoom said. On the May 5 incident, Barsoom said, "10 voting machines were impacted to various degrees ranging from water pouring out to splatter drops on the machine cover." She added, "In an abundance of caution, these 10 machines were swapped with spare machines. Spare machines were part of the logic and accuracy testing and are all certified."
The board also reported an administrative change affecting student voters: voter services determined that current residential halls at Cheyney University are located in Delaware County, and registered voters associated with those halls were transferred to Delaware County voter rolls. Barsoom directed voters to the elections web pages on chesco.org for polling locations, sample ballots and other election notices, and said the voter services phone line (610-344-6410) would be active on Election Day.
Officials announced a campaign sign recycling event run by Keep Chester County Beautiful from May 20–30 at the Government Services Center, Springs and Manor Farms, and Oakland's Corporate Center. When asked about rules for sign placement by a commissioner, Barsoom said general guidance exists but candidates must check local municipal ordinances for specific sign-placement rules.
On staffing, the board unanimously approved several procedural items by voice vote: approval of the minutes of April 25, adoption of the meeting agenda, appointment of poll workers for the 2025 municipal primary (agenda item 03/25), and appointment and authorization of members of the return board to assist in computation for the municipal primary (agenda item 04/25). Barsoom described the county's goal of maintaining bipartisan teams at polling places and said poll worker selection prioritizes volunteers who complete training; party composition can include multiple parties and independents rather than equal numeric parity.
Why it matters: equipment failures, staffing and accurate voter rolls affect the administration and public confidence in an upcoming election. The board said certified spare machines were substituted and that voter services will continue to answer Election Day questions via phone and online resources.
Less-critical details: the board noted a reapportionment project in Phoenixville Borough and said related information was posted on Facebook and the county site. The board reminded the public that only Democratic and Republican ballot styles were in use and that voter services would provide additional follow-up for specific public questions.
