Washington, Greene elections officials predict record turnout
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Melanie Ostrander, assistant director of the Washington County elections office, tests a few voting machines for accuracy at the Courthouse Square building last week.
Barbara S. Miller/Observer-Reporter
Washington County elections office worker Troy Breese sorts absentee ballots received by mail in advance of the Nov. 6 election.
Using the number of absentee ballot applications and those submitted, presumably with votes cast, Larry Spahr, Washington County elections director, expects a turnout of about 55 percent when all is said and done in the midterm elections today.
Those who requested absentee ballots numbered 3,722, about 1,000 more than a recent high point reached in the 2010 midterm elections, Spahr said.
Requests were almost evenly split. Application requests coming from Democrats totaled 1,721 while those from Republicans were 1,677. Third-party and independent voters made up the rest of the total.
The bulk of those absentee ballots had to have been returned to the Washington County elections office last Friday. Those from members of the military and civilians overseas have until Nov. 14 to get to the elections office and be counted.
“We’re looking for a record turnout based on what I’m seeing,” Spahr said of the midterm election. “It’s coming.”
A year that includes Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial contest is typically second to a presidential November election.
In Washington County, turnout today would have to exceed 73 percent to top the throng that voted during the 2016 presidential general election, when 5,178 absentee ballots were requested and 4,499 were returned.
Meanwhile, Greene County Elections Director Tina Kiger is expecting a higher than usual turnout compared with previous midterm elections. Her office issued 657 absentee ballots and received 575 back by Friday’s deadline, which is more than double the amount they had in the 2014 midterm.
She’s estimating that turnout could surpass 50 percent, which would be a marked improvement from the 43 percent in Greene County four years ago.
“It could be higher,” Kiger said. “Even with bad weather, we’re expecting a good turnout.”
Statewide races include U.S. senator, governor and lieutenant governor. Democratic, Republican, Green and Libertarian candidates have filed for each of those offices.
Running for a seat representing the newly redistricted 14th Congressional District are Democrat Bibiana Boerio of Unity Township, Westmoreland County, and Republican Guy Reschenthaler of Peters Township.
Reschenthalers’s 37th State Senatorial District seat, which includes Allegheny County suburbs plus the municipality he now calls home, is not on the ballot this year because only those in even-numbered state senatorial districts are running this year.
That includes Republican State Sen. Camera Bartolotta of Carroll Township, who is seeking a second, four-year term. Her Democratic opponent is James R. Craig of North Strabane Township. The district includes all of Greene County, most of Washington County and part of Beaver County.
Three open seats in the State House are to be filled by Tuesday’s election. They include:
- The 15th District, where Democrat Terry Mitko of Brighton Township, Beaver County, faces Republican Joshua D. Kail of Beaver Borough. State Rep. Jim Christiana pursued an unsuccessful bid for a U.S. Senate nomination in May;
- The 39th District, where Democrat Rob Rhoderick is squaring off against Republican Mike Puskaric. Both candidates live in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, an area where State Rep. Rick Saccone chose not to run;
- And the 40th District, where Democrat Sharon Guidi of Peters Township is running against Republican Natalie Mihalek of Upper St. Clair, Allegheny County. One of the women will succeed State Rep. John Maher, who did not file last winter.
Incumbents running for Legislature include the 46th District, where Republican Ortitay has a challenger in Byron Timmins. Both men live in Cecil Township.
The 48th District features a rematch from May’s special election in which Republican Tim O’Neal again has a challenger in Democrat Clark Mitchell. Both candidates live in South Strabane Township.
In the 49th District, Republican Bud Cook of West Pike Run Township has as his opponent Democrat Steven M. Toprani of Monongahela.
And in the 50th District, Democrat Pam Snyder of Morgan Township for the second time will be facing off with Republican Betsy Rohanna McClure of Franklin Township.
The Washington County elections office has changed a few polling places.
Canton Township no longer has a Precinct 3. The former third precinct has been folded into Precinct 1, and voters will report to the street department at 655 Grove Ave.
In Claysville, voters are to head to the Claysville Volunteer Fire Department, 154 Main St.
And in Peters Township, Precinct A-2 voters will go to Center Presbyterian Church, 255 Center Church Road, where voters from C-3 continue to be assigned.