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What To Know About Tuesday's Primary Election

Voters in Pennsylvania go to the polls Tuesday. Along with state Senate and House races, Democrats will be asked to choose from among four candidates vying for a chance to run for the governor's office in the November election.

Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is seeking re-election, and although the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the candidacy of  Montgomery County businessman and attorney Robert Guzzardi on May 1 for failure to file financial statements on time, the ruling came too late for some counties to remove Guzzardi's name from the ballot.  

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone waiting in line before 8 p.m. still has the right to vote.   As a provision of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2004, those voting for the first time at their polling place must show approved forms of photo or non-photo ID including:   

  • PA driver’s license
  • PennDOT
  • ID card
  • ID issued by any commonwealth agency
  • ID issued by the U.S. government
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. Armed Forces ID
  • student ID
  • employee ID
  • non-photo ID issued by the commonwealth
  • non-photo ID issued by the U.S. government
  • firearm permit
  • current utility bill
  • current bank statement
  • current paycheck
  • government check

The deadline for voter registration is 30 days before a primary or general election. Anyone who is currently unregistered cannot vote in Tuesday's primary. Residents can check their registration status online or by calling 877-VOTESPA. Visit VotesPA for information on how to register in for the election in November or to find your polling place.

Funding for education, taxing gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale, and growing the economy were among some of the topics that played large during the run up to the gubernatorial primary. Here's some background on where the four Democratic candidates stand on those issues and more.

Other contests include five Democratic candidates vying for the nominationfor lieutenant governor to take on the incumbent Jim Cawley in November. Voters will also choose nominees for 18 US House races.