Primary election gets a slow start (Pennsylvania Primary Thread)

TRIBUNE-REVIEW (Pittsburgh area) ^ | 18 May 2010 | By Brooke Keane and Kristina Martin

[Vigilanteman]

Yes, 8 p.m. is closing time in PA. If you are in-line by 8 p.m., you vote. If the poll workers are properly doing their job, they will either lock the doors at 8 p.m. (if everyone can fit inside) or get in line behind the last voter with a sign indicated that polling has closed.

Of course, it doesn't work this way in Philadelphia, particularly if the results are so close that additional votes need to be manufactured.

[ScottinVA]

In Kennedy, only five of the 5,700 voters registered at the township's fire hall had voted by 7:30 a.m.

This is pathetic. Wake up, people!

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Mel Weinstein, 72, of Kennedy . . . . Kennedy likely will see 30 percent, as the township "(holds) its own."

From what I've heard about Kennedy Twp, some of that turnout will include their dearly departed.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

I voted this morning before going to work. It was raining out, and the election judges were clearly bored. I was #13 Republican who had voted that morning (in an overwhelmingly Republican county), and was in fact the only voter in the polling place at the time.

Slow indeed.

[Trinity5]

Any particular reason you’re a registered Democrat? And writing in “Conservative” GOP candidates in the Democrat Primary does absolutely nothing to get them elected. Just curious what your mindset is concerning this.

[Varda]

Sadly!? There’s nothing sad about it.

“Minnie Muldrow of the Hill District”

The Hill District is an inner city black neighborhood. These are Obama voters who are discouraged.

[Vigilanteman]

Westmoreland County is run by the RAT machine, but they are slowly losing their iron grip. Anyone who isn't a registered RAT tends to have their voter registration “accidentally” misplaced or their property tax assessment increased.

[randita]

PA-15 (western suburbs of Allentown). Terrible weather. Voted at 10:30 AM and I was #123. Poll worker whom I know said it had been slow but steady. There were 4 voting machines and I had to wait about 2 mins. for my turn. This is a neighborhood that likes incumbent U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R). I’ve seen a lot of yard signs for him. I’ve seen only a few signs for Sestak and Onorato (same yards for both), none for Specter and none for Corbett. I’d say the interest level is extremely low so that will play to the advantage of the most highly motivated voters which, in this election, are conservatives.

[randita]

http://www.pa2010.com/2010/05/in-philly-early-voter-turnout-is-low/

http://www.pa2010.com/2010/05/five-tuesday-x-factors/

[Think free or die]

Just stopped home for some lunch after sitting at the poll in our SE Phila suburb for the past couple of hours. I'll go back in a few minutes. Voting is slow. We're probably up to about 90-95 voters for the day; last I heard was 86 about 45 minutes ago. Many people took my GOP sample ballot, and I saw some pretty determined faces. Raining, raining, raining and cold. I don't think this weather favors Specter. Any lukewarm voters have more reason to stay in out of the rain.

Dee Adcock's campaign workers stopped by to leave campaign literature. They're the only ones so far in our contested 13th district primary race.

[MayflowerMadam]

“It would not surprise me to see 80-90% turnout in - “ahem” -selected core Democrat districts...”

Would those be the districts with the largest cemeteries?

[ReneeLynn]

Just voted a little before 4. Polling place empty. Lady said I was number 94. I’m not sure if it will pick up, but this area is full of old Democrats, so...maybe a light turnout is not a bad thing.

Could just vote for Toomey and Corbett here.

[ducttape45]

I hope someone keeps up on the latest information coming out of PA so I know whether to go outside and dance a jig in celebration of his defeat.

[ducttape45]

That’s good to hear. Let’s hope that a Specter defeat will finally be the last we see of this traitor.

[novemberslady]

bkmk and bttt

[lightman]

In my rapidly growing voting district in PA-19, I was #271 at 11:00 and wife was #642 around 3:45.

Our 5 term GOP congressman who takes absolutely NO PAC money has been fighting a negative challenger and our 6 term GOP State Assemblyman is fighting off three challengers. A lot of interest in these races, as well as the ticket leaders. Poll pidgeons for 2 of the Assembly candidates and for the 2 congressional contenders.

[PA Engineer]

Voted this afternoon in the Land of Murrymom. Turnout was still light at 1:30. Our polling location has 3000 registered voters. 220 Dems and 334 Repubs had voted. Did not see the shenanigans of the last election such as buses pulling in with crowds of strangers who tied up the polls. That event effectively suppressed local votes while the judge sorted out the claims. The bused in non-residents did not vote, but tied up the polling location until closing.

[Hildy]

NO, you are wrong...independents in AZ tend to be more conservative. I know many, many Republican who have switched to Indy because of mcCain. It won’t help McCain, it will only help Hayworth.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I voted just after 5 today, and was the number 33 (R) at my polling place. They said they hadn’t reached 100 total voters yet. Very slow day.

[Cyber Liberty]

I hope you are correct. It is a good thing that Dems can’t vote in the GOP Primary, though.