Voter Turnout 'Slow' in Lower Southampton

“Slow,” “light,” “limited,” “pitiful” and even “miserable” were how some poll workers described voter turnout this morning.

“There’s really nothing for people to vote for,” judge of elections at Timothy Stockslager said of the “very limited” turn out in the East #1 voting district.

“It’s typically slow with primaries. It’s just the nature of it,” poll worker Richard Pipito said at the same location.

Lower Southampton Board of Supervisors Chairman John McMenamin also said were slow today at .

“The primary hasn’t been publicized,” he said.

“There are not as many contested races,” McMenamin said, but noted that the race for Neshaminy School Directors is one of the “really contested” races.

At about 9:15 a.m. today, only seven people had come in to vote at one of the polling stations in . Poll worker Robert Gantert said that number was “pathetic” and a “disgrace.”

“Some people think that the primaries don’t count,” he said.

Judge of elections Helen Sroba at one of the polling locations at blamed the low turn out on the weather.

“Weather is always a hindrance,” she said and added that all of the workers are hoping for more voters to come in later today.

Also at , judge of elections Norman Smith said voter turn out had been “very, very light.” At 9:15 a.m., only 12 people from in Smith’s voting district had come out to vote.

“Primaries are usually light, but not this light,” Smith said.

On hand to promote and help voters at the township building were Republican and Democratic Party representatives Nicole Hendricks and Joe Blasch who also cited the wet weather as a reason more voters had not come out this morning.

“There are no ,” Blasch said as to why more people had not cast their votes.

“People don’t vote anymore,” one voter who wished the remain anonymous said at .

“Other countries take their civic duty much more seriously,” he said.

“Even if you vote for the wrong person, at least you practiced your civic duty,” he said, adding that Americans would rather watch “Dancing with the Stars” than vote.

“If you don’t vote, don’t complain,” he said.

While polls were not bustling with residents anxious to cast their vote, there were people out making their opinions known through their vote.

“It’s my duty, my right,” resident Dot Tumpak said at the .

“It’s our constitutional right as American citizens,” she said, noting that one issue in the forefront of her mind was that of the school board.

“They better figure out that contract soon,” Tumpak said of the and the school board.

Tumpak’s sentiments were echoed by resident John Dempsey, who was first in line at the polling location.

“It’s the right thing to do. I always vote,” Dempsey said.

“It’s a chance to voice our concerns and opinions,” he said. Some of the issues Dempsey said were in his mind as he cast his vote were government intrusion, “unnecessarily high taxes” and “tax burdens to come for our grandchildren and children.”

Judge of elections Matthew Kline at the township building had more faith in residents coming out later today to vote.

“It doesn’t get as much attention, but people in this community care and come out to vote,” Kline said of the primary.