Union County rolls into the polls
By Nilanjana Saha
Editor-in-Chief
Out of the 24,508 registered voters, 17,710 (approximately 72 percent) cast their ballots at the 27 precincts in Union County on Election Day, according to the Union County Bureau of Elections.
The number reflects a 2 to 3 percent reduction from the 2004 voter turnout, Kim Zerbe, an election voter registration staff member, said in a phone interview.
The numbers are unofficial as of Nov. 5 because provisional and military ballots are still being counted.
University students voted in four precincts Tuesday. In Larison Hall, the Third Ward of Lewisburg, long lines and parking problems were anticipated with 2,061 registered voters, but 1,293 (63 percent), turned out. Judge of Election, Judith Peeler, said only 300 of the registrants were non-students.
The busiest times at Larison were around 7 a.m. as polls opened and around 10:30 a.m. when approximately 50 to 75 people waited in line.
Peeler said the seven machines were operating well, and she did not notice any major parking issues.
“I thought it would be busier. I am a little puzzled as to why more students aren’t here,” Peeler said on Tuesday evening with two hours until poll closings.
Peeler said while the county tries to keep accurate numbers, the total number of registrations may not indicate updated information from last spring since students graduated or changed their precincts.
Only a few people were unable to vote due to late registrations while most other glitches with names and addresses were solved at the polling site, Peeler said. Only one provisional ballot was cast by 6:30 p.m.
Stephen Pellegrino ’10, a first-time voter, waited in line for 30 to 40 minutes in Larison during lunch hours to vote. He said the actual voting process was smooth once the wait was over.
Brice Dreamer ’10 was also a first-time voter.
“[It felt] powerful to vote,” he said. He did not experience any lines in Larison when he went to vote around 1 p.m.
“People wanted to make sure they voted. I think the country is going to see a big jump in the voter turnout,” said Joe Manzi, a partisan poll watcher at Larison.
On the other side of campus at the Weis Center, students began voting early. Ben Bible ’10 cast his ballot around 9 a.m.
“It was a smooth process. I thought we were going to have to wait for hours, but it only took about three minutes,” Bible said.
Brenna English-Loeb ’11 voted at the same polling site. She said the process was self-explanatory but expressed concerns that lines may back up in the course of the day.
Of the 1,062 people registered, 712 (67.04 percent), cast their votes at that polling site.
At the Union County Courthouse, the Second Ward in Lewisburg, there were no voters in sight at midday. Poll workers said most people voted early.
“There were 63 people in line in the first 45 minutes [of the polls opening],” poll worker Susan Travis said.
Richard McClure, who has been working the polls for almost two decades, said that 2004 saw a 76 percent turnout at the precinct, and he was expecting more this year. Of the 782 registrations, a total of 483 (61.7 percent) votes were cast.
Despite voters showing up early to polling sites, poll worker Connie Moore said, “The line had been steady all day.”
The Donald Eichhorn Middle School served as the East Buffalo Third Ward polling site. Of the 1,456 registered, 1,102 voted. This precinct saw the highest turnout rate at 75.69 percent.
“It’s a historical election, no matter the outcome, and it’s exciting to be a part of it,” Emily Fry ’11 said as she left the Weis Center early Tuesday.
The sentiment resonated across the board.
“I have wanted to [volunteer] for a long time. I am glad to be a part of it,” said Eileen Klaus, a poll worker at the Union County courthouse.
