Issues abound, but Pa. turnout expected to be light

With many mayoral posts and school board seats on the line, as well as countywide offices and judgeships, Pennsylvania voters - at least some - head to the polls Tuesday with local issues in mind.

Elections officials predict low turnouts. A Delaware County spokeswoman who forecast 30 percent of registered voters would cast a ballot, while a Montgomery County spokesman said even 17 percent there would be "optimistic."

They said they were prepared to staff polling places and address technical problems during the day.

In Delaware County, Democrats hope to claim one of the county offices that have been solidly Republican for decades. In Bucks County, the race for sheriff has drawn citizens' attention while in Montgomery County, a race for Court of Common Pleas judge has stirred interest.

Local issues abound: Sidewalks have become an electoral focus in Yardley, same-sex marriage in New Hope, teachers' contracts in West Chester. Yet activists also say that voters' feelings about politics in Washington will sway the results.

Candidates from both parties said the recent government shutdown - which citizens nationwide tended to more often blame on Republicans, according to polls - could sway voters to elect Democrats.

"There's a lot of anger about the support that the local Republicans have had for Corbett at the state level and for the shenanigans at the federal level," said Bill Clinton, a Democrat running for county council in Delaware County. "People have expressed anger and disappoinment, first at the whole system and then at the behavior of the Republicans."

Montgomery County Republican Committee spokesman John Keleman also said national politics would be on voters' minds today, but he said he saw an advantage for Republican candidates.

He predicted that voters will take into account their frustration with President Obama's health-care law, which largely went into effect last month.

"Fortunately for us, I think the bill for Obamacare is finally coming due," he said. "That's likely to drive out Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, so that's good for us."

County election officials said they stand ready to help any citizen who may encounter a problem voting. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.