Inquirer staff writer David O'Reilly reports:

Voter turnout in today’s elections appeared light at mid-day, with several polling places reporting a fraction of the numbers they saw in the historic presidential election of a year ago.

“We’re seeing about three every half hour,” said Sue Sauerman, an observer at the poll at the Alden Park apartment complex on West Schoolhouse Lane, who was doing needlepoint while she waited. “And that’s with an inflation index,” joked Democratic committeeman Hugh Donahue. The East Falls district, whose 1,721 registered voters include hundreds of students at Philadelphia University registered last year by the Obama campaign, had seen only 37 voters – most of them middle-aged and older - by 10:30 a.m.

The district attorney race was “my main reason” for voting, said Richard Hawkins, 81, a retired sugar refinery worker.

Following Hawkins into the booths was real estate developer Bob Brasler. Voting is “part of my DNA,” he said, but added that “as the past president and founding CEO of the National Constitution Center, I also feel a sense of duty” to vote.

Iris Williams, judge of elections at the polling place at the Phillipian Gardens apartments in the 5100 block of North 6th Street, said 47 of the district’s 1,307 registered voters had voted as of 11:30 a.m. .

“I think a lot of people woke up this morning to learn about the SEPTA strike, and they’re mostly thinking about how to get to work,” she said.

“I just came out to vote Democratic,” Marcial Torres, 86, a retired factory worker, explained through an interpreter, “and because it is a privilege to vote.” Martha Hudnell, 80, said she came out because the district attorney race “means a lot.”

At Guild House West in the 1200 block of Fairmount Avenue, election judge Lugina Robinson said she expected most voters to turn up after work, “but the SEPTA strike might hurt some of that.” As of 12:20 p.m., 54 of the district’s 1,262 voters had cast votes.

“It’s very important to vote for the judges,” said 63-year-old Willie Brown, a retired worker at the Sun Ship plant in Chester. “But I vote in every election.”

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

The Judge of Election has rejected a petition by the city Democratic Committee and backed by Mayor Nutter to extend voting hours tonight because of the SEPTA strike.

The Committee of Seventy reports that judge said he was "extremely sympathetic" to voters who are experiencing any inconvenience due to the SEPTA strike but ruled that “there is just not enough of an undue burden or hardship shown" to "overturn the statute."
 

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Inquirer staff writer Mari Schaefer reports:

The big question outside the Colwyn Borough Hall and election precinct was whether or not Antonio Berry, who was handing out campaign cards for Republican candidates, should be wearing an Obama campaign t-shirt.

Democrats at the location said Berry should remove the shirt.

Berry, who is registered as a Democrat, kept his shirt on and agreed to abide by the rules to stay at least 10 feet from the door.

“That is what makes this America,” he said when the debate was done.

While the views on what was right to do were mixed, Christopher Broach, who is running for inspector of elections, said tomorrow they would be back to being friends.

Politics, he said, run deep in Colwyn.

“For the most part, everyone wants Colwyn to be a real successful place,” he said.
 

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff writer Jacqueline L. Urgo reports:

 Deep in the heart of Democrat territory at Ponzio's diner in Cherry Hill — a longtime hot spot for politicos — the place was still buzzing about Gov. Corzine's breakfast-time visit well into the lunchtime rush.

“Oh, he's such a nice man," said Lil Pantone, 73, a Corzine supporter who rushed to the diner when she got word from some of her political cronies that he would making a last-push stop there today.

“I was happy to come out to let him know we are behind him all the way,” said Pantone, who said she hung around for lunch because so many of her friends from the local Democratic club kept pouring in all morning for a cup of coffee and to chat about the tight gubernatorial race.

“I think it's definitely going to be a slug fest down to the very end, just like the Phillies in the World Series,” said Leonard Jones, 62, of Camden, a Corzine supporter also lunching at Ponzo's so he could have his BLT with a side of politics. “But in the end, I think we'll prevail - on both counts.”

Doris Clifton, 58, of Laurel Springs, said she is a “dyed in the wool” Republican who had no idea that Corzine had even been in the diner this morning. “If he was still here when I pulled in, I probably would have gone somewhere else.”

But Cherry Hill East High School students Jonathan Silverstone and Ben Kirby, both 16, said even though they are too young vote, they are pulling out all the stops to get Corzine reelected.

“He's the best man for the job,” said Silverstone, who stood with Kirby along the eastbound lane of Route 73 in Mount Laurel for several hours holding Corzine campaign signs to remind voters to get to the polls.

“I think it helps remind people that its election day and that they need to get out to vote,” said Silverstone, who noted that the reaction from motorists has been mixed.

“You get thumbs up and thumbs down and a lot of people honking,” said Silverstone, county director for area New Jersey Student Democrats organization. “It seems likes its running 50-50, about what the polls are reflecting.”

Kirby said that while he could think of a variety of things most 16 year olds who had the day off from school were probably doing besides hawking a gubernatorial candidate on the side of a busy highway, he couldn’t think of anything he's rather be doing.

“Even though we're too young to vote, I think that when you believe in something, you have to get out there and show the world,” Kirby said.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff writer Jacqueline L. Urgo reports:

In Gloucester County, most voters seem quick to want to tell you who they voted for in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race and why. And they mostly seemed to be going for Gov. Jon Corzine outside polling places in Deptford and Woodbury.

“Corzine is the least of our problems,” said Bob McGroarty, 68, of Woodbury, a retired lawyer whose vote when strictly Democrat. “People want to blame him for a lot of things, but he's been trying to work responsibly with the problems of this economy.”

Bill and Diane Boesenhofer, retirees from Deptford, said they were happy to vote for Corzine again.

“He's gotten a bad rap,” said Bill Boesenhofer, 76.

Lisa Watson, 36, of Deptford, said she had briefly considered voting for independent Christopher Daggett, but changed her mind at the last minute.

“I was worried that a vote for Daggett was really a vote for [Republican candidate Chris] Christie against Corzine,” Watson said. “I absolutely do not want to see Christie as governor of New Jersey.”

But Elizabeth Riggins, 65, of Woodbury, said she has been a Republican since Ronald Reagan won her over with his charm years ago.

“I had to vote for Christie,” Riggins said. “I just cannot see giving Corzine another four years to raise our taxes.”

Frank Pino, 56, a union electrician from Deptford said that while his union urged him to vote for Corzine, believing the Democrat favors labor more so than Christie, in his heart he wanted to vote for the Republican.

“I’m mad at Corzine, but in the end I voted for him,” Pino said. “It was a real philosophical struggle for me. I don't think Corzine really has done enough for the labor unions in this state, but I'm sure Christie would do nothing at all for us.”

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff writer Anthony R. Wood reports:

Just before 10 this morning, not a single voter was to be found at the polling station at the Roberts Elementary School in Upper Merion.

When one did show up, a poll worker handed him his ticket and turned to the row of empty machines, saying, “you can have your pick.”

What today may demonstrate once again is that candidates – not the weather – drive voter turnout.

It should be splendid in both states, and odds are that turnout in New Jersey will be astronomically higher than in Pennsylvania.

A few years back (in 2004), the Inquirer did an analysis of 30 years of election returns and weather in Philadelphia and found no evidence of any link between the two. On the 10 Election Days with the highest turnouts, it rained; seven of the 10 lowest-turnout days were rain-free.

“There is not a scintilla of real evidence that weather affects the outcome,” G. Terry Madonna, the Franklin & Marshall College pollster, has said. Yet, he noted, the influence of weather on elections remains an enduring myth.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff writer Sally Downey reports:

Since most voters cast their ballots near their homes, there is no reason to believe the SEPTA strike will have a major affect on todays election in Philadelphia.

But it's still a presence.

For example, at the polling place at St. Andrew's Lithuanian Church, 19th & Wallace in Spring Garden, one poll worker had to leave her post for an hour. Her daughter needed a ride to work.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Polls are now open in New Jersey where voters are electing a governor in a closely watched race.

Incumbant Democrat Gov. Jon Corzine and GOP challenger Chris Christie were in a statistical dead heat in the public opinion polls when the voting boothss opened at 6 a.m. Independent Chris Daggett also is on the ballot.

Polls will close at 8 p.m.

Voters also are electing members of the state Assembly and officials in a variety of county and municipal offices.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.