‘Lukewarm’ turnout expected
Turnout for today’s election is expected to be slightly less than for typical midterms, with “lukewarm” interest in the state’s gubernatorial race and an uncontested race for the area’s main congressional seat.
“You just don’t feel as much excitement in the gubernatorial race,” Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr said. “It just doesn’t seem to be there. Interest in it is lukewarm.”
Republican Gov. Tom Corbett was trailing in the polls to Democratic challenger Tom Wolf leading up to Election Day, and he could become the first incumbent governor to lose a re-election bid in Pennsylvania, but whatever attention that race attracted hasn’t translated into enthusiasm for down-the-ballot contests.
Spahr said Washington County will be “lucky” to reach 45 percent turnout. That number would be down slightly from the 2006 and 2010 elections, which produced 48 and 47 percent participation rates, respectively. The midterm general election typically produces the second-highest turnout, trailing only presidential elections.
Spahr said another reason for his prediction of a lower turnout is U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, whose 18th Congressional District consumes most of Washington County, is running unopposed.
The congressional race between U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, and Democratic challenger, Alanna Hartzok of Franklin County, covers a sprawling Ninth District that extends from Waynesburg to Chambersburg. The district reaches into a sliver of the Mon Valley in Washington County and half of Greene County.
“Usually, in those congressional districts that you have a hotly contested race, you drive up turnout,” Spahr said.
The Washington County elections office received 1,573 absentee ballots by Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline, and those are “usually a bellwether” for turnout, Spahr said. That figure is about half the absentee ballots sent in 2006, he said. However, declining voter registration in recent years – it’s dropped by 14,000 people from the previous midterm to about 140,000 registered voters for this election – could be a factor.
The absentee ballots were split nearly evenly between the two main parties, with 782 sent by Democrats and 712 filed by Republicans. Voters who are registered independents or not affiliated with any party make up the remaining 79 absentee ballots. Another 210 voters who requested absentee ballots did not return them by the deadline, election records indicate.
Spahr expects a better turnout for the 46th state House district race between Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, and small-business owner Jason Ortitay of South Fayette. That campaign has turned nasty at times.
The race between state Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, and his Republican challenger, Camera Bartolotta of Carroll Township, in the 46th Senate District, which includes most of Washington County and all of Greene County, also has generated interest.
Other contested legislative races include Republican state Rep. Jim Christiana of Beaver County and Democratic challenger Paul Cain for the 15th state House district race; Republican Rep. Rick Saccone of Elizabeth Township, seeking his third term against Democrat Lisa Stout-Bashioum of Somerset Township in the 39th state House district; Democratic Rep. Brandon Neuman of North Strabane Township defending his seat against Repulican Sonia Stopperich, also of North Strabane, in the 48th state House district; and Republican Bud Cook of West Pike Run Township challenging Democratic state Rep. Pete Daley in the 49th House district.
This is the first election for the new state House and Senate districts that were redrawn following the 2010 census.
The polls in Pennsylvania open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Follow live election results online tonight at www.observer-reporter.com.