As election day rolls on, all eyes will be on Pennsylvania, and specifically Bucks County. In the past few elections, Bucks has been part of a “blue wall” in the southeastern part of the state in terms of federal elections, but Republicans are looking to turn the area red this year.
In Doylestown, the county seat, there was a lot of action in the morning, with lines up to 30-40 minutes long. However, by 10 a.m. the lines had disappeared. Connor O’Hanlon, the Chair of the Doylestown Democrats and director of candidate development for the Bucks County Democratic committee, was still very positive about the turnout.
“Throughout Doylestown, it’s been really good,” he said. “Pretty good split for Democrats and Progressives. If the in person vote is as good as it looks right here, then we are in pretty good shape.”
In other states across the country, there have been reports of Republicans using early voting more than Democrats in this election cycle. In PA, it seems as though more Democrats used early voting more, although nothing can be confirmed since ballots could not be processed until today. O’Hanlon, though, is not worried that Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump could have an early lead.
“I’m glad to have more people using our election systems the right way, and I’m glad more people are voting,” he said. “I think when more people vote the better our democracy works and the more people are heard. So I don’t think it will be any problem, I think it’s just going to take a little longer to know who wins.”
It seems that many workers and election officials feel that the results in the Keystone state will take a while to be known. In a press release put out today, Common Cause Executive Director for PA, Philip Henseley-Robin, said,“This election is going to come down to the wire and it’s crucial all voters have a say in Pennsylvania’s future. After the voting, the counting begins, and counting every vote accurately takes time. While we’re all anxious for the results, the most important thing is that every vote is counted, and we respect our voting process.”
There were no reported issues at Doylestown Borough Hall, Wesley Enhanced Living, and the Bucks County Bar Association, which are all polling places in town. Voters have until 8 p.m. tonight to fill out their ballots, and any voters in line before 8 p.m. can still stay in line to vote.
