Carlie Campbell took her spot at the end of the line extending out of Alumni Hall at Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center and waited to cast her first ballot.
For the 19-year-old sophomore, this is the first election she is voting in, but said it is important to her to do so because of the work of many who came before her.
‘I think it’s important because of women’s suffrage. You’re given the right to vote and I think everyone should act on that,’ she said. ‘Regardless if you feel you’re not extremely confident in the candidate you’re voting for, you still have that right and should exercise that right.’
Campbell is one of 123,204 registered voters in Centre County, which is expecting a record turnout for this general election. Up to 8,000 of those voters are expected to cast their ballots at the HUB, which is the polling place for five of the county’s 91 voting precincts.
‘This is the largest single voting location in the state,’ County Commissioner Steve Dershem said Tuesday morning.
The line to vote was just beginning to grow around 11 a.m. Dershem said he expected turnout to be steady throughout the afternoon
‘It started off a little slow, but it’s off and running now,’ he said. ‘In between classes the students are certainly piling up here so we’re seeing an incredible turnout.’
Dozens of poll workers are helping throughout the day in the HUB to help with questions and keep the lines moving. Among them is student Brendan Bernicker, who was serving as a ‘sorter’ to answer any questions voters may have about where they’re registered.
‘We’re finally starting to have a bit of a line which is good because it means people are here but we’d also like to get them moving through,’ he said. ‘It’s going pretty well.’
In Patton Township, voter turnout was heavy through the morning at the Patton Township Building.
Laurie Voinchet was voter 497 and said she waited about two hours in line before casting her vote.
‘It was important for me to come now. I wanted to do it. I figured I was here, I wasn’t going to wait and try to come back later because I think it’s going to be very busy,’ she said. ‘They’re expecting over 2000 people here at this polling station.’
Voters wait in line Tuesday at the Patton Township Building. Photo: Geoff Rushton/StateCollege.com
Centre County was expecting a record turnout, and voter turnout is expected to be high across the state. Pedro Cortes, Pennsylvania Secretary of State, told the Associated Press that he expects 7 million of the state’s 8.7 million registered voters to cast ballots on Tuesday.
Polls will be open until 8 p.m.
‘If you are in line at 8 you will vote,’ Dershem said.
