UPDATE: Turnout steady at Lackawanna County polling sites
A steady turnout of people headed to the polls to cast their votes throughout Lackawanna County on Tuesday, with dozens at polling sites.
The large crowds that filled polling stations thinned by the early afternoon but a steady stream of people still turned out at polling locations in Old Forge and Dickson City.
Several first time voters decided in the afternoon to cast ballots.
Talia Piragos, 18, of Old Forge arrived at the Eagle-McClure Hose Company No. 1 to vote for the first time with her father, Donny Piragos. The Wilkes University freshman felt it was important to get her vote in.
"It's a big election," she said, adding she felt great after voting. "Even if the candidate I picked loses, at least I know I did my part."
Joseph Killino of Dickson City was convinced to vote for the first time by his fiancée, Olivia Praefke, who accompanied him to his polling site at Eagle Hose Company No. 1. He said the process was simple.
"Pretty straightforward," he said.
Bob McCallum, judge of elections for Dickson City precinct 3-1, has been happy to see people voting for the first time and hopes more will do so.
"I think more people should vote in this country," he said. "It's nice to see everyone come out."
The new voters were mixed with more experienced ones, including lifelong Old Forge resident Sal Luzio Sr., who turns 74 this weekend. With the exception of 2020, he has voted in person most of his life. He said doing so is a privilege.
Dickson City resident Jason Mushow, who came to the polling station at Eagle Hose Company with his wife Lindsey Mellow and son Linson Mushow, 4, said he makes it a point to vote in person in every election.
"It's our right," he said.
An hour after the polls opened at 7 a.m., crowds of people, some with young children, walked into Scranton High School at one of eight polling precincts. They were greeted by a cutout of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president. A few people walking out of the polls posed for photos beside the cutout.
Among them was Maraea Blackwell, who brought her 5-year old son Jaylen with her to vote. She said she was voting for both their futures.
"I just feel like this election is honestly so important to women and children," Blackwell said.
She was among several voters who said women's reproductive rights were among the issues that brought them to the polls. Josephine O'Boyle, 68, said she worries that her 12-year-old granddaughter will not be able to choose what she wants to do in the future for her body.
There was a steady crowd of a little more than a dozen people voting at the Dunmore Community Center, which also has eight polling precincts.
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People walk into polling stations at Scranton High School on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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Maraea Blackwell and her son Jaylen Blackwell, 5, pose with "I voted" stickers after voting at Scranton High School Tuesday morning, Nov. 5, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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People walk into vote at the Dunmore Community Center Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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Michael Capozzi and Nicole Zmuda of Dunmore pose with their "I voted" stickers after casting their votes at the Dunmore Community Center Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
People walk into polling stations at Scranton High School on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
People who came in to cast their ballots midmorning said they regularly come out to the polls.
"We vote every election," said Dunmore resident Nicole Zmuda outside the community center.
Those voting at both the center and Scranton High School said they voted in person to ensure it counts. Zmuda feels her vote is better protected coming in person than voting by mail.
Poll workers at both locations said the crowds were steady throughout the morning and there were no major issues. They also said they saw more independent voters show up, as well as young people casting a ballot for the first time. Vans from the University of Scranton dropped students off at the polls at Scranton High School.
"I think it's wonderful to have first-time voters," said Sally Ramseur, a poll worker for District 17-2 in Scranton.
