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Luzerne County Election Director Marisa Crispell said she is receiving reports of “very low voter turnout” in today’s primary election.
Turnout was 18 percent in the 2014 primary, when nominations for the governor’s race were last on the ballot.
A total of 106,323 Democrats and 74,901 Republicans are registered to vote in today’s primary. Polls will remain open until 8 p.m.
For more on the races, click here.
Voters with concerns or questions, including the correct location of their polling place, should contact the county election office at 570-825-1715.
Polling place locations and other information has been posted on the election page at www.luzernecounty.org.
No problems with voting machines or procedures had been reported as of this afternoon, Crispell said.
Election staffers have been monitoring the weather due to the possibility of power outages, she said.
The National Weather Service reports thunderstorms and showers are likely with the potential for damaging winds and heavy rainfall.
Crispell said a tree fell on a power line in the Dallas area around noon, causing a power outage at a polling place — the Back Mountain Memorial Library. However, UGI Energy Services had restored power within 30 minutes, she said.
The county’s electronic voting machines are designed to run about eight hours on batteries if necessary, Crispell said. The machines are charged before delivery and must be plugged in when they are set up on election day, she said.
Temporary emergency generators also are available from the county’s Emergency Management Agency, Crispell said.
The weather also is a concern because election workers from throughout the county must travel to Wilkes-Barre after the polls close to deliver their results, Crispell said.
Live election results will be posted on the county website tonight, with continuing coverage here at timesleader.com.
