Fayette Trails in Turnout as Counties Count Ballots
Fayette County ranked second-lowest in Pennsylvania voter turnout in the 2026 midterm, while the statewide rate reached 55.3%.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections
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Fayette County recorded 48.7% voter turnout in the 2026 midterm election, the second-lowest in Pennsylvania, while Greene County's 50.9% ranked fifth-lowest. Statewide turnout was 55.3%, with more than 5 million votes cast across the commonwealth.
Why it matters
Low turnout in several southwestern Pennsylvania counties shapes how representative local results are across the state. Election processes in Fayette and Washington counties also drew scrutiny, with ballot handling and precinct operations affecting how voters cast their ballots.
Fayette County turnout of 48.7% and Greene County's 50.9% trailed the statewide 55.3%, while Washington County reached 56.6%. Approximately 260 provisional ballots in Fayette County and 300 undelivered mail-in ballots remain part of the count.
The players
Pat Stefano
Pat Stefano is a Republican Pennsylvania state senator who won the Fayette County state Senate race against Democratic challenger Jacob Cecil.
Camera Bartolotta
Camera Bartolotta is a Republican Pennsylvania state senator who won her fourth term against independent candidate Jodi Borello.
The details
Fayette County officials sent notices the Friday before the election asking voters who did not receive a ballot to vote on-demand or provisionally at their precinct. In Washington County, a hearing before Judge Traci McDonald removed the judge of elections at the Chartiers-3 precinct after an electronic poll book malfunctioned, extending voting there until 10 p.m.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Pennsylvania midterm election held.
Friday, October 30, 2026: Fayette County sent notices about undelivered mail-in ballots.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Election officials canvassed the vote.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Provisional, overseas and military ballots to be counted.
Need to Know
Pennsylvania's automatic post-election audit requires a hand count of randomly selected precincts, and this midterm's review of 10 precincts will test the reported Fayette and Washington totals. The audit comes after a midterm in which statewide turnout reached 55.3%.
Voters who received no mail-in ballot in Fayette County were directed to vote on-demand or provisionally, and those provisional ballots will be reviewed before the final count. Residents who need to confirm how their ballot was counted should check with their county election office.
The takeaway
Turnout gaps between counties and undelivered ballots show how local election administration affects who participates. Watching the audit results and provisional ballot counts will show whether the final tallies hold.
What happens next
The hand count of 10 random precincts will take place Thursday and Friday, and provisional, overseas and military ballots will be counted Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how ballots are counted and verified, see Elections coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Observer-Reporter.
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