How many will bother to head to the polls?
Today marks the first day that those who registered online will be able to cast votes, but how many will bother to head to the polls? There are myriad contests on a long ballot topped by statewide judicial contests, with county and local elections in between, plus questions dealing with the retention of two sitting Washington County judges.
As of Thursday, the Washington County elections office processed about 1,000 absentee ballots, 400 more than in the primary.
Using the number of absentee ballots as an indicator, Larry Spahr, elections director, said turnout “may be 24 to 25 percent” of those registered.
If this pans out, turnout would surpass the 21 to 22 percent turnout in the May primary, but it would be “nothing to write home about,” Spahr said.
“Typically, a municipal election does not have a huge turnout, but voters are recognizing the Supreme Court race for the historic event that it is,” said Wanda Murren, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees elections.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
Voters in seven precincts in Washington County will be heading to new polling places. Instead of voting at the California Borough Building, residents of California Precincts 1 and 2 will be casting ballots at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 213 Fourth St.
Those who live in Donegal Township’s 3rd Precinct should head to the municipal building at 34 Liberty St. instead of West Alexander Fire Department.
Midway voters will no longer be going to the community center, but instead to Midway Volunteer Fire Department, 99 St. John St.
North Strabane Township’s 6th Precinct has been moved from North Strabane Intermediate School to North Strabane Township Fire Station 1, 2550 Washington Road.
And Union Township’s 1st and 6th Precincts will not be voting at Ringgold School District’s Gastonville Elementary Center, but at the nearby Oddfellows Club, 3684 Finleyville-Elrama Road.
There are an unprecedented three vacancies on the state Supreme Court. Vying for the seats are Democrats David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin M. Dougherty; Republicans Anne Covey, Michael George and Judith Olson; and independent Paul P. Panepinto.
State Superior Court’s one vacancy will be filled by either Democrat Alice Beck Dubow and Republican Emil Giordano. Elected to Commonwealth Court will be either Michael Wojcik or Paul Lalley.
Because of the resignation of state Sen. Matt Smith in the 37th District in May, voters in Peters Township will have an opportunity to help choose a successor in a special election. Over the summer, a Democratic nominating convention chose Heather Arnet, while Republican delegates picked Guy Reschenthaler. Peters’ dozen 37th District precincts are the only ones in Washington County. The bulk of the district lies in southern and western Allegheny County.
In countywide contests, voters will have a chance to vote for two county commissioners, and the three top vote-getters will be sworn into office in January. The incumbents are Democrats Larry Maggi and Harlan Shober and Republican Diana Irey Vaughan. The other Republican candidate is Mike McCormick.
In the district attorney’s race, incumbent Republican Gene Vittone has a challenger in Democrat Peter V. Marcoline III. Incumbent county Treasurer Francis L. King is facing Republican David A. Borodaty. The impending retirement of Phyllis Ranko Matheny as prothonotary has left an opening for either Joy Schury Ranko, a Democrat, or David D. Tennent III, a Republican.
Two countywide Democratic incumbent row officers, Coroner S. Timothy Warco and Register of Wills Mary Jo Poknis, who is also the clerk of orphans’ court, are running unopposed.
Frank Scandale, a Democrat, plans to hold county office for the first time as clerk of courts. He has no Republican opponent.
Asking voters to retain them for an additional 10-year term are President Judge Katherine B. Emery and Judge John DiSalle.
The ballot is a long one, with city voters also choosing candidates for mayor, council, treasurer and controller in Washington, and mayor, council and treasurer in Monongahela.
In Washington, Scott Putnam secured nominations from both parties in the May primary, but voters will choose two council members from a list that includes Democratic newcomer Monda Kay Williams and incumbent Ken Westcott; Republican newcomer Georgia Ballentyne; and incumbent Terry Faust, who is running as a third-party candidate. City Treasurer Denny Adams and Controller Nick Dubina, both incumbents, are running unopposed.
In Monongahela, incumbent Bob Kepics has both the Democratic and Republican nominations, and Kenneth J. Kulak and Daryl A. Miller are running unopposed for four-year terms as councilmen.
In Charleroi, Democrat Nancy Ellis is squaring off against Republican Terrence M. Newstrom for the remaining two years of the term that is open due to the resignation of John Mollenauer.
The offices of borough mayor and council, tax collector, second-class township supervisor, auditor and constable will be on the ballot, as well as council in Peters Township, a home rule community, and township commissioner in East Bethlehem Township, Washington County’s only first-class township.
All incumbent county district judges whose six-year terms are up this year are running unopposed: Robert W. Redlinger in Washington and North Franklin; Curtis L. Thompson in the Bentleyville-Marianna area; and Ethan Ward in the Claysville-West Middletown area. Traci McDonald-Kemp secured the Democratic and Republican nominations in the spring for the district judge seat in the Cecil-McDonald area.