In one precinct, Election Day is a chance to catch up
Photo by Ben Allen/witf
(Harrisburg) — On this Election Day, turnout is coming in as expected – busy in some areas, slower in others.
Voters filed in and out of three voting booths at the Swatara Church of God in Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County.
By noon, about 150 had cast their ballots in races for governor, Congress and state House and Senate.
Jim Spare has been Judge of Elections for the polling place for more than 20 years and says turnout is on pace to hit between 30 and 40 percent.
He says he sees many of the same faces during elections, but politics aren’t the main conversation topic.
“Ahh, neighborhood things, neighborhood things, how are the flowers blooming and what’s going on on your street and just those kinds of things,” he says.
“No, no. This is a small poll, and we just, it’s kinda a family thing. It’s kinda saying hello and we don’t talk politics much in here.”
Voters named pension costs, education, and taxes as the main issues for them.
Meanwhile, the turnout story could be described as brisk in some precincts across the midstate.
More than 200 voters at a Lower Allen Township precinct in Cumberland County had voted by 11 this morning.
In Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, more than 270 had cast a ballot before 10 am this morning, while another report indicated 200 plus votes in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County by nine this morning. At a precinct in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, about 330 voters filtered through by 12:50 pm.
Polls are open until eight tonight.
WITF will have live, special coverage of election results tonight starting at eight.
You can also follow us on twitterand facebook.
Earlier, I put out a call on twitter for voter counts in precincts. Here are the responses:
@BenAllenWITF 505 in Susquehanna township at 2 pm
— Michael Herzing (@MHerz67) November 4, 2014
@BenAllenWITF 305 in Silver Spring 3 at 2:30 pm
— Bob Caton (@BobCaton) November 4, 2014
@BenAllenWITF Working the polls in Silver Spring 7. We had 330 voters at 12:50 pm! #PAelection #PApolitics
— Kevin Juliano (@KevinJJuliano) November 4, 2014
Voter #52, #HBG Ward 5 RT: @BenAllenWITF: You vote today? Help me out for a story. What number voter were you? And where?
— Brian J. Ostella (@bostella) November 4, 2014
@BenAllenWITF voter 10, 12th ward, Harrisburg
— kelly leighton (@kellyleighton) November 4, 2014
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