PA 2022 Election Preview: Everything You Need To Know

PENNSYLVANIA — One of the most transformative state elections in Pennsylvania history is just a day away, as the results of Tuesday's races could determine both the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and major policy direction in the region for years to come.

All eyes are on the race to fill outgoing U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey's seat, with Lt. Gov. John Fetterman seeing his early lead to celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz dwindle in the final weeks of the campaign. The race is now considered a toss-up. Meanwhile, the gubernatorial race leans to the Democratic side, with Attorney General Josh Shapiro holding a large lead over Republican State Sen. Doug Mastriano.

Here's a run down of everything you need to know, from the latest on the major races, to what else you'll see on your ballot, to what to expect at the polls on election day.

What's at stake

Former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, along with current President Joe Biden, were all in Pennsylvania this past weekend stumping for candidates in the major races.

Given the stakes and Pennsylvania's continuing role as a political bellweather, it's little surprise to see each party's heavyweights look to make a final impact before next Tuesday. It could also serve as a preview of the 2024 Presidential race, which could be a rematch between Biden and Trump.

The winner of the gubernatorial race will not only be the determining factor in the future of touchstone issues like abortion in Pennsylvania, but will also be in charge of running election returns in 2024. With mail-in balloting and other election laws still points of heavy contention, the governor will have an outsized impact on the results.

The winner of the U.S. Senate, race, meanwhile, could tilt the body either red or blue. It's currently split between 50 Democrats (including two independents that caucus with the party) and 50 Republicans.

This Pennsylvania seat is the only seat up for grabs in a state which Biden won in 2020.

Other races

Beyond the big two races, every seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is up for election, and 25 state Senate seats are up for election.

Republicans hold majorities in both chambers. They currently hold 113 seats to the Democrats' 89 in the House.

Of the 25 Senate seats on the ballot this year, 13 are Republican-held and 11 and Democrat-held, along with one independent.

Overwhelming Democratic victories could tilt the balance of power, but it remains likely that Republicans will hold control of both chambers as they have for some time.

There are also numerous seats in U.S. Congress on the ballot this fall. The delegation is split between 9 Democrats and 9 Republicans.

Latest lawsuits: undated ballots

Controversy has been continued to boil over mail-in ballot-related election processes ever since the 2020 election season. The latest lawsuits attempted to have mail-in ballots that do not have the date on the enveloped struck down as unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court overruled a lower court's ruling stating that undated ballots could be counted.

Republicans argue that the letter of the law requires mail-in ballots have the dates handwritten by voters on the envelope. They say it's a matter of security and election integrity.

Democrats say it's disenfranchising voters on a technicality. And Gov. Tom Wolf's adminstration has ordered all counties to include all of their undated ballots in their official returns.

"(The) order from the U.S. Supreme Court vacating the Third Circuit's decision on mootness grounds was not based on the merits of the issue and does not affect the prior decision of Commonwealth Court in any way," Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman said in a statement. "It provides no justification for counties to exclude ballots based on a minor omission, and we expect that counties will continue to comply with their obligation to count all legal votes."

If you're voting by mail

Voting by mail was available to all Pennsylvania voters prior to Election Day. The deadline to request a ballot was Nov. 1.

Ballots are due back to a designated ballot drop-off location by 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

If you still haven't received your mail-in ballot and Election Day arrives, you can also vote via a provisional ballot at the polls. The provisional ballot will become your official vote once elections officials determine they have not received your mail-in ballot.

"If voters still have their mail ballot and want to ensure their vote counts, we strongly recommend that they hand deliver their mail ballot immediately to their county elections office or other officially designated return location," Pennsylvania Secretary of State Leigh Chapman said in a statement.

Voting in-person

Polls will be open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're planning on voting in-person and are not sure where to go to vote, you can find your polling place here.

Voter rights

If you are heading in-person to a polling place, it's important to know your rights, and what is and is not legal in your encounters with poll workers.You are not required to show identification, according to Pennsylvania law, unless you have never voted at that precinct in the past.

Only voters who have never voted at that precinct before are required to show identification, according to Pennsylvania law. That identification does not have to be photo identification, but it must contain your name and address.

Just because your name is not in the poll book, does not mean you are not registered to vote, according to a release from Gov. Wolf's office. Voting officials should call the county board of elections to confirm your status.

For those who may have limited English language proficiency, the law stipulates that you may bring another individual with you into the voting booth to help out casting your vote.Finally, aside from wearing a mask and staying six feet away from other voters, you can also minimize risk by voting early to avoid long lines to vote.