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Early Voter Turnout Below Expectations in Wilkes-Barre

WILKES-BARRE — Voter turnout was expected to be higher in Wilkes-Barre than in many communities in our area because of a mayor’s race and a race for...

WILKES-BARRE -- Voter turnout was expected to be higher in Wilkes-Barre than in many communities in our area because of a mayor's race and a race for district magistrate that encompasses much of the city of Wilkes-Barre.

For the first time in more than a decade, these races don't have an incumbent and don't appear to have a clear-cut front runner. Many believed that would increase turnout.

Newswatch 16 saw a small, late afternoon rush of voters at the Coal Street ice rink complex in Wilkes-Barre.

We spent part of the afternoon at the Kistler Elementary School off Old River Road. It is home to two large precincts and is usually one of the busiest polling places in Wilkes-Barre.

At about 4:15 p.m. turnout was at 25 percent.

A couple of politicians and campaign workers called that number disappointing. They expected turnout to be more than 30 percent by that time of day.

At the Coal Street Complex there are three voting precincts in the building.

Turnout was 27 percent around 5 p.m.

But even with a last-minute rush of voters, many in Wilkes-Barre say the turnout will be lower than expected despite near-perfect weather and races that were expected to draw people to the polls.

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