Local election officials predict fewer than a third of registered electorate will vote
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Gary Freeland of Washington feeds a paper ballot into a counter while Carol Earliwine of Washington watches the process. They took part in a public logic and accuracy test last week at Washington County Elections Office.
Observer-Reporter
Accuracy testing
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Philip Collier of Weirton, W.Va., and Gary Freeland of Washington fill out paper ballots they will then use to match votes on an electronic machine to test the accuracy of the machines during a public logic and accuracy test last week at the Washington County Elections Office.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, but based on the relatively small number of absentee ballots requested, turnout will probably be light.
“We’re going to be lucky if we hit the low 20s,” said Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr last week of the percentage of the registered electorate that will actually vote.
“I guess we can say your faithful voters will turn out.”
Washington County voters requested 889 absentee ballots, and 576 had been returned to the elections office by mid-afternoon Thursday, a little more than 24 hours before the deadline for civilian voters.
On the ballot in this year’s general election are justices and judges; township, borough and city officials; and school board members.
State Rep. Brandon Neuman won both major-party nominations in May, so he’s running unopposed for Washington County judge.
On the Washington County ballot, the recorder of deeds is the only race among row officers. Challenging incumbent Democrat Debbie Bardella is real estate salesman James Roman, a Republican. Two Democrats – Controller Michael Namie and Sheriff Samuel Romano – are running unopposed. Romano won both parties’ nominations in the May primary.
Among magisterial district judges, Jacob Machel, who has Democratic and Republican nominations, is running against Jesse Pettit, an independent, for an open seat being vacated by James Ellis, who declined to run for a sixth six-year term in the Peters Township-based district, which also includes Nottingham and Union townships and Finleyville.
In the Monongahela area, incumbent Mark Wilson, who won the Democratic and Republican nominations, has a write-in challenger in Peter Seth Hoosac of New Eagle, who lost in the primary. Wilson is seeking a third six-year term.
Both Hoosac and Machel obtained certification by passing the Minor Judiciary Education Board examination. Wilson has been certified since 2005, and Pettit, an attorney, is exempt from taking the course.
District judges Jay Weller of North Strabane and Gary H. Havelka received both major-party nominations and are running unopposed.
Washington residents will be selecting two councilmen from three on the ballot: Matt Staniszewski, who won both major-party nominations, incumbent Democrat Joe Manning and Republican Terry Faust. Staniszewski and Faust are both former members of council.
In Greene County, if previous off-year elections are any indication of turnout, Elections Director Tina Kiger expects a small crowd today. Kiger is predicting about 27 percent turnout, although that number might be wishful thinking, she said.
“I’m doubting it will go that high, but it could since we have the sheriff and coroner races,” Kiger said. “I hope I’m wrong.”
The two major races in Greene County are for sheriff, between incumbent Democrat Brian Tennant and his Republican challenger, Ed DeBolt, and for coroner, between longtime incumbent Greg Rohanna, a Democrat, and Republican Gene Rush.
Even if a quarter of eligible voters go to the polls, as Kiger expects, that figure would be dwarfed by the robust 74 percent turnout during last November’s presidential election.
“It’s probably not going to be good,” Kiger said.
There is one polling place that will be moved for this election. Voters in Springhill Township who previously voted at the municipal building will now vote at the township’s new community center at the former Springhill-Freeport Elementary School at 1055 Deep Valley Road, New Freeport.
In Westmoreland County, Monessen Mayor Lou Mavrakis hopes to retain his seat through a write-in vote. Mavrakis lost the Democratic primary to newcomer Matt Shorraw.