Bureau of Elections ready to mail out ballots later this month ahead of special election
The Butler County Bureau of Elections is hoping to get mail-in ballots to 12th District absentee voters the week of July 20 ahead of the special election for former state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba’s House of Representative seat.
Chantell McCurdy, bureau director, shared updates for the Aug. 18 election during the Butler County Commissioners meeting, Wednesday July 8.
Republican Scott Timko and Democrat Brandon Dukes will square off in the August election for the remaining three and a half months of Scialabba’s term. Scialabba stepped down from her seat at the end of March.
Whoever wins the seat will hold it until the end of the year.
Come November, retired Air Force pilot Timko and construction loan administrator Dukes are set to square off again in the 12th District election to determine who holds the seat for the next two years. The term associated with the November election will begin at the start of 2027.
A part of the southwestern part of Butler County, the 12th District consists the Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships, as well as Evans City, Harmony, Zelienople, Seven Fields, Mars, Valencia and Callery boroughs.
Both Timko and Dukes are Cranberry Township residents.
As there were no challenges, the Bureau of Elections has moved forward with the creation of the special election ballot.
McCurdy also confirmed during the commissioners meeting that all polling places should be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
While two polling locations were classified as inaccessible by the 2026 Survey of Polling Place Accessibility for the Elderly and Persons with Disability, those polling places will “use an alternate door into the building to allow for greater access,” McCurdy said.
On Aug. 18, the polls will operate normal hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
