Election leaders prepare for voting
Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Blair County maintenance workers, including Kevin Adams, were busy loading nearly 500 voting machines on Friday at the highway department yard for distribution before Tuesday’s election. Blair County Elections Director Sarah Seymour said the busiest hours on Election Day are usually at the opening, around lunchtime and in the evening after businesses close.
Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Blair County maintenance worker Kevin Adams was busy loading nearly 500 voting machines and supplies Friday at the highway department yard for distribution before Tuesday’s election. These boxes also contain items such as extension cords and paper forms that could be needed at a polling place.
Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Blair County maintenance workers, including Kevin Adams, were busy loading nearly 500 voting machines on Friday at the highway department yard for distribution before Tuesday’s election. Blair County Elections Director Sarah Seymour said the busiest hours on Election Day are usually at the opening, around lunchtime and in the evening after businesses close.
Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Blair County maintenance worker Kevin Adams was busy loading nearly 500 voting machines and supplies Friday at the highway department yard for distribution before Tuesday’s election. These boxes also contain items such as extension cords and paper forms that could be needed at a polling place.
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With party leaders predicting high turnout driven by a hard-fought presidential race, voters can expect long lines Tuesday at some high-volume polling places.
The combination of a tough presidential fight, a nationally watched Senate race and Pennsylvania's ongoing status as a battleground could lead to intense interest -- especially as the state doesn't offer early voting as a pressure valve.
Some lawmakers hope to change that, putting Pennsylvania in the majority of states that let voters cast ballots ahead of Election Day. But for now, officials can only advise voters to turn up at less-busy times of the day.
"It's going to be, I think, historic," said Lois Kaneshiki, the Blair County Republican Party chairwoman.
Polls in Pennsylvania open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone who arrives in line by 8 can vote no matter how long it takes; election workers join the line at 8 o'clock to ensure no one jumps in after the cutoff, Blair County Elections Director Sarah Seymour said.
Seymour said the busiest hours are usually at the opening, around lunchtime and in the evening after businesses close. Downtime might be found in midmorning or earlier in the afternoon, before voters leave work or finish dinner.
Seymour said she doesn't expect excessive waits or serious backups anywhere, but voters can expect to stand in line for at least a little while. Past problems -- particularly in Frankstown Township -- could be alleviated after officials added several polling sites. Part of the risk of long lines could be traced to Pennsylvania's total lack of early voting -- a policy that places it among just 12 other states. The only form of early voting allowed is by absentee ballot, and voters seeking to use those need to have a valid excuse.
As of Wednesday, Seymour said, the Blair County office had received 2,520 filled absentee ballots out of 3,174 requested. The deadline to return a completed ballot passed last week.
Voters have expressed interest in a change, at least in Blair County, Seymour said.
"That has been one of the No. 1 questions in phone calls," she said. "People call in watching on the news, and they see early voting in all the other states. They ask how they can participate in early voting in Pennsylvania."
Tens of millions of voters nationwide have already cast their ballots by early and no-excuse-needed absentee voting, including millions in swing states.
On Wednesday, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a Pittsburgh hearing on legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, that would allow 15 days of early voting in Pa.
"Such an early voting law would help people who work several jobs, travel or face uncertainty about making it to the polls on election day," Fontana said in a written statement. The bill, which earned support from 14 cosponsors, is awaiting word from the Senate Committee on State Government.
For now, however, voters will have to settle for Election Day.
In some areas, high volume combined with first-time voting can create logistical hurdles for election officials. High turnout is expected at the Penn State University campus in State College, where students from five precincts gather at the campus Hub to be sorted into their proper lines, Centre County election and registration director Joyce McKinley said.
"We expect a substantial turnout," she said, noting that the county's busiest times run from about 4 to
8 p.m.
In Blair County, both major parties plan to aid voters who can't make it to the polls themselves and ensure their loyal partisans turn out in time.
"We will have people that are volunteers. They volunteer to drive people to the polls," Blair County Democratic Party head Gillian Kratzer said. "We'll still have our people out, knocking on doors and reminding people to vote."
Democrats looking for a ride to the polls can call 944-9924 for help, she said.
On the GOP side, party officers and volunteers will be on call to offer rides as well, Kaneshiki said. Those in need can call 944-4504.
"Unfortunately, we don't always hear ahead of time," she said. "We're going to be ready on Election Day."
Mirror Staff Writer Ryan Brown is at 946-7457.