Politics & Government

Turnout Low at Pine-Richland Polls for 2013 Primary Election

Election officials blame the light crowd on it not being a presidential election year.

There were no lines Tuesday as Pine-Richland voters turned out in low numbers for the 2013 primary election.

With this being a non-presidential election year (when many residents turn out to vote), it was slow going at Pine-Richland’s polls—although Stewart Strickland said it should be just the opposite.

The Judge of Elections at the Pine District II polling location at the Pine-Richland High School stadium, Strickland pointed out this year’s election puts into office the people whose decision affect residents most—including township officials and school board members.

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These candidates often determine tax rates, draft new ordinances and review the businesses that enter the community.

“They really have a palpable effect on the way you live,” Strickland said.

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Amy Hudak, judge of election for District IV in Pine, said Tuesday’s light crowd was the opposite of last November’s general election, when election workers could hardly catch a break.

“There were a lot of people,” she said. “There were lines out the door all day long.”

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Hudak said just 19 people had cast their votes at Northway Christian Church, that’s out of 1,200 registered voters in the precinct.

It was the same story over at Pine-Richland Stadium, which is home to three polling locations.

As of 2 p.m., Gloria Lott, majority inspector for Pine Township Region II, estimated less than 3 percent of the 1,519 registered voters in the precinct had shown up to vote.

“I think people expect to get to 10 percent at least,” she said.

Sharon Scheidemantle, the minority inspector for Region III in Pine, offered a simple explanation for voters are avoiding the polls—no big name, or national, candidates.

“There’s nothing sexy about this,” she said.

Locally, one of the few contested race in the May primary was between incumbent Katie Shogan and Greg DiTullo, who were both vying for a seat on the Pine-Richland School Board for the seat in representing Pine Township Region I.

Shogun, who was appointed to the board last May to replace Director Richard Herko, was victorious Tuesday night.

For more election results, click here.

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