What to expect in Pennsylvania at the polls a week from today 

A voter fills out his ballot at the Board of Elections office in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pa. October 20, 2026. (Photo by John Beale/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)One week out from Election Day, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt advised voters to be patient, both with those working the polls and those counting ballots as part of a high stakes midterm election.  “I want to remind everyone that counting ballots takes time, and county election officials rightly prioritize accuracy over speed,” Schmidt said. “If a race is close, it may take time to know who the winner is, as provisional ballots and military ballots and overseas civilian absentee ballots are counted after Election Day.”  Polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and close at 8 p.m. — though any voter still in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Volunteer poll workers will look up voters and direct them to sign next to their names in a poll book.  First-time voters will need to show