Lackawanna County election workers may finish counting all mail-in ballots by 8 p.m.

Nov. 9—SCRANTON — Mail-in ballots in Lackawanna County may be counted by the time polls close at 8 p.m., said Lackawanna County Director of Elections Beth Hopkins.

As of about 5 p.m., staff had counted almost 17,000 of the 20,664 mail-in ballots returned so far.

As of Monday, 211 mail-in ballots lacked a signature, date or both and a few more trickled in Tuesday. All day long, voters believing they forgot to sign or date ballots visited the county Government Center to correct the defect, Hopkins said. Former Lackawanna County Director of Elections Marion Medalis is managing the ballot corrections, she said.

Among the handful who watched the mail-in ballot count in downtown Scranton was Frank Scavo, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to 60 days in prison for taking part in riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Turnout at the Waverly Community House was better than past mid-term elections earlier Tuesday, said Judge of Elections Abby Peck.

"Three hundred and forty-two (voters) and it's not even lunchtime," Peck said shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Turnout appeared high in different parts of Lackawanna County through Tuesday morning as voting continued. Around noon, Hopkins said reports from workers roaming the county indicate it's busy.

In Old Forge, Dave Thomas, a judge of elections at Eagle-McClure Hose Co. No. 1, said the more than 600 voters who cast their ballots before noon at the Milwaukee Avenue firehouse kept them busier than in presidential election year.

Tyler McAlpine had the congressional race between Republican Jim Bognet and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8, Moosic, at the top of his mind as he entered McNichols Plaza Elementary School in South Scranton to vote.

McAlpine touted the federal funds Cartwright brought to area projects as a reason to vote for him and took aim at Bognet for his recent comments toward the Black Scranton Project as a "radical, pro-crime group."

"It hurt a lot of people," McAlpine said. "I would not like him to represent me in Congress."

Voting began Tuesday morning with limited issues and seemingly steady turnout.

Amid widespread concerns of threats to election workers, Hopkins said only minor problems were reported, such as judges of elections arriving at polling locations early and finding the doors locked.

Michael Jacobs, the judge of elections at the West Side Senior Center on Jackson Street, said 47 people had cast ballots there by 9:23 a.m. and 153 absentee and mail-in ballots had been submitted.

Turnout has moved at a "steady clip" and he suspected it will only pick up as the day moves on.

"All the races are important," said West Scranton resident and voter Walter Oliver.

Oliver, 67, declined to say who he cast a ballot for in various races because of heightened tensions surrounding the election.

"It's obvious who should be the next governor," he said.

Voters are concerned about the economy but it makes little sense to believe responsibility for its condition rests on one man, he said.

Oliver is concerned with the level of misinformation polluting political discourse and wondered how anyone could make an informed decision as a result.

"The common people, they all want the same thing," he said. "They want to be able to be with their families and live comfortably."

Polls in Lackawanna County remain open until 8 p.m. as voters choose a new governor, U.S. senator, members of the U.S. House and state senators and representatives.

Among the contested races:

—U.S. Senate: Montgomery County Republican Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon and former television host faces Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Allegheny County and former Braddock Borough mayor.

—8th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Moosic Democrat, is in a rematch from 2020, against Jim Bognet, a Republican from Hazle Twp. who owns a communications and marketing strategy company.

—9th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican who lives in Jackson Twp., Luzerne County, faces Democrat Amanda Waldman, a financial representative who lives in Mill Creek Twp., Lycoming County.

—Pennsylvania Governor: State Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Montgomery County Democrat, is running against State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33, Franklin.

—20th Senate District: Sen. Lisa Baker, a Lehman Twp., Luzerne County, Republican, versus Jaclyn Baker, a Liberty Twp., Susquehanna County, Democrat and public school teacher in Binghamton, New York.

—22nd Senate District: Sen. Marty Flynn, a Dunmore Democrat, versus Thomas Bassett, a Pittston Republican and a band and music teacher in the Dallas School District.

—40th Senate District: State Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-189, Middle Smithfield Twp., Monroe County, faces Jennifer Shukaitis, a medical coding specialist and Stroud Twp., Monroe County, supervisor. Because of reapportionment, the 40th will include part of Lackawanna County for the first time, most of the Midvalley and Upvalley, and part of Wayne County.

—112th House District: Rep. Kyle Mullins, a Blakely Democrat, versus William Torbeck, a Dunmore Republican and a technician at the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

—113th House District: Scranton City Council President Kyle Donahue, a Democrat, versus Madison Twp. Supervisor Aaron Sepkowski, a Republican.

—114th House District: Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, a Waverly Twp. Democrat, versus David Burgerhoff, a Scranton Republican, who operates lawn care, maintenance and home cleanout businesses.

—118th House District: Democrat Jim Haddock, a Luzerne County court records manager from Pittston Twp., faces Republican James May, a former state Department of Transportation spokesman, who lives in Ransom Twp.

—139th House District: Meghan Rosenfeld, a Dingman Twp., Pike County, Democrat, versus Wayne County Commissioner Joseph Adams, a Salem Twp., Wayne County, Republican.

—Other: Incumbent representatives Tina Pickett, R-110, Wysox Twp., Bradford County, and Jonathan Fritz, R-111, Honesdale, are unopposed for reelection.

Voters who have problems voting or see questionable practices should call:

Lackawanna County: 570-963-6737

Luzerne County: 570-825-1715

Monroe County: 570-517-3165

Pike County: 570-296-3427

Susquehanna County: 570-278-4600, extension 4090 (or 570-278-6697)

Wayne County: 570-253-5978

Wyoming County: 570-996-2224 or 2226

Check back for updates.

Originally published on thetimes-tribune.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.