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The voter turnout in Tuesday's general election lowest in recent history
Published: November 4, 2009
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MIKE STAUGAITIS/Staff Photo Voters Linda Parks, right, and John Shenewerk cast their ballots at Shamokin Area Middle-High School on Tuesday.
MIKE STAUGAITIS/Staff Photos Poll workers. from left, Marie O'Day, Chet Purcell and Diane Fabrizioshare a laugh at the Shamokin Area High School voting station in Coal Township.
SUNBURY - The voter turnout in Tuesday's general election in Northumberland County was among the lowest in recent county history.
With 95 percent of the votes recorded late Tuesday night, there were only 13,540 ballots cast among the 53,904 registered voters in the county, which represents a 25 percent voter turnout.
Scott Dunn, director of the county board of elections who was working his first election after being appointed to the post in June, said he expected a low voter turnout due to many uncontested races throughout the county.
Several poll workers in Shamokin and Coal Township reported very low turnouts at their respective stations.
Dunn reported no mechanical issues were experienced with the 94 electronic voting machines and said no other problems occurred.
Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi added, "This is the lowest turnout I can remember in a general election. I realize there were a lot of uncontested races, but I think it's sad more people don't come out to vote."
A minimal crowd gathered throughout the evening at the Northumberland County Administration Center to keep tabs on vote totals after they arrived from the respective precincts and were projected on the wall in the public meeting room.
Dunn said an official vote count will be conducted Friday and Monday.
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