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Long Lines at Polls in the Poconos

MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP — There are reports of lines at polling places all over northeastern and central Pennsylvania including the Poconos. The line a...

MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP -- There are reports of lines at polling places all over northeastern and central Pennsylvania including the Poconos.

The line at the Middle Smithfield Township Municipal Building is wrapped around the building with voters waiting to cast their ballots Tuesday afternoon.

While it might look intimidating with all the people lined up, voters in Middle Smithfield Township say it actually hasn't been a bad wait.

"Actually, it was very good," said Patricia Oest. "It was the best that they have done so far. I was very pleased. My husband timed it."

"36 minutes exactly from the start to the finish," said Douglas Oest.

Douglas Oest and his wife Patricia tell Newswatch 16 they saw big improvements at the polls on this Election Day. The lines were long but the process was very organized and with six voting machines inside, the lines kept moving

"It's very impressive," Douglas added. "Middle Smithfield really did a great job in moving everything. The way they set it up this time than in previous years is absolutely fantastic."

Voters tell us this election is much different than eight years ago when some waited in line for nearly two hours to cast their vote. They are happy to see that things have changed.

In Tobyhanna, it was the same drill.

At the firehouse on Laurel Drive, about 150 people were waiting while we were there.

"From the time we got in line, I would say a half hour, maybe a touch more but it was pretty quick," said Paula Duarte.

"I'll wait as long as I have to," said Yolanda Salem.  "I am ready."

Salem said this election is very important so she's stopping at nothing to make sure her vote gets in.

"I think with what is going down with this country, we have to fix things up and get the right people in there and hopefully everything works out well."

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