Primary Election 2015 Turnout Low; ‘It’s Slow, Slow & Slow’

Despite some highly contested races throughout the area, attendance was dismal throughout Levittown and surrounding towns on Tuesday’s Primary Election Day, according to poll workers.

We’ve broken down information from several towns in our coverage area.

Bristol Borough

Polling places in Bristol Borough had a small but steady stream of voters in the early evening hours.

In the East Ward, candidates were outside the polling place at Bristol High School starting at 7 a.m.

“I feel good,”  said Greg Pezza, a Democratic incumbent candidate running for council. “I feel good about the way today is going,”

“It’s tough being a Republican in a major Democratic town,” East Ward candidate Dave Cochran said.

At the borough’s poling places, several candidates pointed out the evening rush, which was nothing compared to turnout during the last presidential election.

“We’re hopeful, but no one can be sure until the votes are counted,” Jim Lake, a Democrat running for council in the East Ward.

At least 300 people voted by early evening in the West Ward, according to polling officials.

The primary election in the borough comes after a weekend that was filled with attacks between those with opposing views.

“I ran a positive campaign. I’m disappointed at the negativity of the other side, and I hope the residents of Bristol vote for me based on my record of service,” said Chuck Groff, an incumbent Democrat running to keep his seat on the school board.

Council candidate Tony Riccio, a Democrat from the West Ward, noted that is was nice to reach primary election day.

“It’s a nice turnout, a nice day. It’s a good time,” said Lois Quattrocchi, a Democrat running in the South Ward.

Bristol Township

Bristol Township’s council and school board were highly-contested races featuring Democrats, but that didn’t bring local residents out to vote in big numbers. Read more about the Bristol Township council candidates.

At the height of rush-hour area polling places had not seen 10 percent. A turnout of a little under 9 percent was reported at James Buchanan Elementary School. The polling place, which counts residents of Junewood, Kenwood, Dogwood and area apartments, is located at 2200 Haines Road in Levittown.

The Judge of Elections at the two polling places inside Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in the township’s Pumbridge section, reported an even lower voter turnout, at 8.55 percent shortly before 5 p.m. The polling place covers residents in the Plumbridge and Mill Creek sections of the township.

The lowest voter counts came from George Washington Elementary School. The school, located at 275 Crabtree Drive, measured just over 7 percent voter turnout. The polling place did however report issues with one of their machines. According to Election Official Marie DiSalvo, an Appletree resident and wife of beloved crossing guard Vince DiSalvo, the manual counts and machine counts were off. “I had to report it,” she said. The polling place covers residents across the Crabtree, Appletree and Holly Hill sections of Bristol Township.

Incumbent and Council Vice President Amber Longhitano, 54, of Croydon confirmed the local firehouse had seen just 109 voters by 5 p.m.

“I do expect a lot more this evening,” she said. “The people are excited with the progress of the township. One guy said he lived here in Croydon for 58 years and never saw such positive, fast moving government. He was a happy man. I think positive, so I am hoping we are all successful. So far at my polling place people are coming out with a ‘Thank you Amber for what you do’ and a thumbs up, so my fingers are crossed,” Longhitano said.

Joe Glasson, incumbent and resident of the township’s Blue Ridge section, agreed that attendance was very low throughout the area.

“I still can’t figure out why,” he said. “People don’t vote, but most residents were positive toward the Pro-Team. Good luck to all the candidates.”

Murray Bailey, who was sworn in to take the place of the late council president Bob Lewis, also ran in Tuesday’s election. If he does not win in the primary, he will still be a member of the council until January, when a special election will be held. The Pro-Team plans to celebrate a hopeful victory at Georgine’s at 1320 Newport Road in Bristol at 8 p.m..

Bailey, along with new-comers Patrick Antonello and Gallus Obert could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Falls Township

Turnout across Falls Township’s polling places was reported to be slow throughout the evening.

Milt Warrell, write-in candidate for constable, said that he saw low turnout since the morning. However, he did note that many residents were telling him they voted for him as their write-in candidate.

At Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School, turnout in the morning was reported to be slow. “These races, albeit important, don’t draw residents out like the presidential ones,” a poll worker, who did not wish to give their name, said in a phone interview.

Incumbent Pennsbury School Board President Gary Sanderson said that he had seen “light” turnout throughout the township all day.

Between 6 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., only two or three people arrived to vote at Manor Elementary Schoool.

Langhorne

Turnout at the borough’s lone polling place was reported to be slow throughout the day.

“It’s slow, slow and slow,” incumbent Republican Register of Wills candidate Don Petrille, who stood at the polling place to greet voters, said of Langhorne and voter turnout throughout the county.

Several folks stood outside the main entrance to the polling place to handout literature.

State Rep. Frank Farry, a Republican who stopped by the polling place, said there had to be more people working the polls than voting.

Middletown

A trickle of people came to vote at the polling places inside Neshaminy High School early in the evening.

Many poll workers told LevittownNow.com they were surprised by the low turnout considering the heated race for school board.

At Maple Point Middle School, a similar story was relayed by poll workers.

The polls at Oliver Heckman Elementary School matched the turnout of the other locations.

Penndel Borough

Low voter turnout continued, even in Penndel Borough.

Mayor Bob Winkler reported the borough had only seen about 60 votes come out, over 5 hours into the polls being open. “I’m surprised, given all the drama with the Neshaminy School Board,” he said.

Councilwoman Kali Sodano, said she voted around 3:45 p.m. and was voter 124. “I was actually a bit surprised by that number,” she said. “The first time I rain in 2013, Primary Day only drew about 130 voters. I’m optimistic that an after-work rush might bring in another 75 people or so.”

Numbers did jump as Sodano predicted. Winker told LevittownNow.com shortly before 6:30 p.m., that 176 residents out of 1470 registered voters had cast their ballots.

For Incumbent Barbara Heffelfinger, she wasn’t so sure how the race would end up. Heffelfinger who was seen chatting with residents outside the borough hall, said ” I don’t have a clue. I haven’t even thought about it. I just have a job to do.”