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Voter Turnout Light for PA Primary

This is primary election day in Pennsylvania and precincts all over our area are reporting light voter turnout. Some races are getting a lot of attention, inclu...

This is primary election day in Pennsylvania and precincts all over our area are reporting light voter turnout.

Some races are getting a lot of attention, including the race for the Democratic nomination in the 17th Congressional District.

Attorney Matt Cartwright, a political newcomer from Lackawanna County, is up against 10-term Representative Tim Holden from Schuylkill County.

Both candidates were out Tuesday doing some last-minute campaigning.

Election officials in Taylor report turnout is light, exactly what several polling places in Luzerne County reported.

"She called to remind me it was election day. I thought it was in May. Didn't it used to be in May?" asked Alice Nixon of Wilkes-Barre.

She said a call from her sister-in-law reminded her to hit the polls in Wilkes-Barre. Primary election day is in April this year because it is a presidential election year.

Not far away in Mountain Top, a short line greeted voters who arrived to cast their ballots at the Mountain Top Hose Company. Many said they came to simply do their civic duty.

"Voting is a privilege and everyone should exercise that privilege," said Walter Cole.

Shortly after noon at the 4th Ward in Pittston all the voting machines were empty. In fact, the poll workers said only 67 out of 824 registered voters cast a ballot. That's less than 10 percent.

"We're showing a very poor turnout, running less than 10 percent right now and I think people just lost interest in voting," said election judge Mike Kolody.

Nancy Brogna said she thought more voters would come out to vote because of the hotly contested 17th Congressional Democratic primary between Representative Tim Holden and attorney Matt Cartwright.

"I'm shocked, yes, because politics is everything today and you have to do what you have to do. I wanted to come out you have to do what you have to do. You have to show your voice," Brogna said.

WNEP's extended election coverage begins with two full hours on WNEP2 and will be streamed live on WNEP.com. Election coverage will continue on WNEP Newswatch 16 at 11.

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