Voter Turnout For Chesco Primary Is 22.1 Percent: Election Services

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —Voter turnout in Chester County for the May 2023 primary was low, at 22.1 percent, or 82,707 votes out of 374,307 registered voters, according to unofficial results provided by Chester County Voter Services.

The total voters included 55,065 at the polling places and 27,642 by mail.

In comparison, the voter turnout in the May 2022 primary amounted to 32 percent of the registered voter or 119,984 out of 374,833 voters.

The 2022 general election had a 67.87 percent turnout, amounting to 259,495 out of 382,333 registered voters, according to voter services.

During the 2020 presidential election, the turnout in Chester County was 83.2 percent, or 316,586, out of 380,388 registered voters.

This year’s primary focused on elections of five seats on the Chester County bench and county, municipal, and school board candidates.

Reaction

Charlotte Valyo, Chester County Democratic chairwoman, said the turnout is disappointing.

Valyo said the committee spends a lot of time educating the public to vote.

“This election is historic,” she said. “No one can remember a time when there were five openings for judges. The school boards are also a hot spot in all areas.”

At the polls throughout the day, polls workers and judges of elections said turnout was slow.

At two precincts in Phoenixville Recreation Center, by noon on election day, a total of 77 voters had cast ballots.

Poll workers throughout the county noted that the polls are typically busy only during presidential elections.

There were no long lines or waiting at the polls.

Dr. Raffi Terzian, chairman of the Chester County Republican Committee, did not respond to a request from Patch to provide a reaction to the light turnout for the 2023 primary election.

Since the pandemic, many voters have elected to vote by mail and have continued the process.