Voters lined up outside Newtown Grant.
Credit: Ingrid Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Heavy turnout was reported at the polling places in Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield.
At some polling places, lines were more than 100 deep and lasted for two hours as voters moved one by one to cast their ballots.
By 9:30 a.m., Newtown Borough Ward One reported 25 percent of registered voters had come through already. As the day went on, the number of votes cast grew. Election Constable Joseph Gordon said there was a 30 minute wait to get into the polling place at 8 a.m.
At the VFW Hall on Linden Avenue in Newtown Township, voters were turning out in large numbers in the morning.
Three of the busiest area polling places appeared to be Sol Feinstone Elementary School in Upper Makefield, the Newtown Township Administration Building and Newtown Grant Recreation Center.
Outside the elementary school, lines extended far beyond the polling place doors. Men and women stood talking to those in line and handing out campaign literature. An election constable assigned to the school said turnout was steady but larger groups appeared to come in waves. Due to the fact the school serves the whole township, a map of the districts was on display for voters to determine which voting district they live in.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Trump supporter John D’Aprile was working the polling place outside the township building and said the turnout was beyond anything he had ever seen.
Turnout was out the door in the morning and afternoon at the township building. As the evening went on, the lines were shorter but still very strong, according to Democratic poll volunteer Joanne Bintliff-Ritchie.
During the midday, the line at the Newtown Grant Recreation Center voter line went around the fence.
This year featured highly competitive presidential, senate, congressional and state representative races.
Dominic Cardarelli, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in his early 20s, said he felt it was his duty to vote in the election.
His friend, Ryan Yorty came out to vote because he believed in Trump’s message.
Clinton supporter Carl Lipshutz said the importance of voting drew him to the polls.
What started as a joke about writing friends in for a vote lead to Newtown resident Mark Burton voting for the first time. He said he pledged his support for Trump.
Glenn Beasley of Newtown said voting is a civic responsibility in our democracy. He said he planned to vote for Clinton because he believes in her vision for the country.
Newtown Township Supervisor Phillip Calabro said he was glad to see heavy turnout in the area. “A great turnout means the process is working.”
