Voter Turnout Light During 2011 May Primary

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's Election Day in Pennsylvania.

Polling places were open, but voters seemed few and far between.

"It's extremely light and I usually have a huge turnout but it's been very light for us today," Louise Pallone, judge of elections, said.

A polling place in Brookline usually gets 300 to 500 voters. The count at midday was 55.

The rainy weather didn't keep the candidates away.

Mark Patrick Flaherty, a Democrat running for Allegheny County Chief Executive, showed up at the polls with his wife and daughter in Mt. Lebanon.

"We feel great," he said. "We're just glad that the election has finally come and the voters get to make the decision."

Across town in Squirrel Hill, Rich Fitzgerald, also a Democrat running for Allegheny County Chief Executive, escorted his wife, Cathy, and eight children into the polling place.

"It's always exciting to come out and vote with my family today," he said. "This has really been a family endeavor for the last number of months."

The intensity of the Democratic race was not matched on the Republican side where former County Councilman Chuck McCullough faced off against Mt. Lebanon Commissioner D. Raja, but low voter turnout was expected to be worse among Republicans.

"It's really important that everybody comes out and casts their vote," he said.

Until the polls close at 8 p.m., no one can say for sure whether this is one of the lowest voter turnouts in the region's history. One thing is for sure -- there doesn't seem to be a whole lot on the ballot that's exciting local voters.

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