Blair County was no exception regarding large voter turnout which was also experienced throughout the rest of the state and the country.
According to information posted on the county web site at blairco.org, nearly 68 percent of the county’s 80,596 registered voters cast ballots. That translates into 54,635 voters or 67.79 percent of all registered voters.
Blair County Board of Elections Director Shirley Crowl said the county’s voter turnout was the most since the Reagan years.
In the northern Blair communities of Tyrone, Bellwood, Antis Township, Snyder Township and Tyrone Township, voter turnout ranged from a low of 56.33 to high of 79.04.
Statewide, the Associated Press reported a turnout of about 5.5 million voters which was the most in at least 44 years. AP said a record 8.3 million voters were registered for this election, up 6.5 percent from nearly 7.8 million in 2000.
Preliminary figures indicated that 58 percent of eligible voters showed up, which would be the most since the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1971. In 1972, 56 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the state.
Recent statewide vote totals in a presidential year have fallen short of five million votes. In 1960, more than five million Pennsylvanians voted when Democrat John Kennedy defeated Republican Richard Nixon. In 2000, 4.9 million voters went to the polls in the state.
Nationally, more than 113 million people had cast ballots with 99 percent of the precincts counted. In 2000, more than 105 million voters cast ballots.
This year, Democratic challenger John F. Kerry defeated President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania. The Keystone state was considered one of three large pivotal states in the race for the presidency. Of the other two, Florida, the subject of the 2000 election controversy, went more easily for Bush this time around. As for Ohio, Bush held a lead of 136,000 votes with 100 percent of the precincts reporting. The 20 electoral votes provided by the Buckeye state would give Bush the needed electoral college vote. However, the possibility of uncounted provisional ballots led many news organizations to hold off on calling the state for Bush and an official concession from the Kerry camp had not come by 10:30 a.m. this morning.
As of 7 a.m., Associated Press reported Bush had 254 electoral votes to Kerry’s 252. The votes in Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio had not been placed in either candidates’ column.
In Pennsylvania, Republican Senator Arlen Specter was reelected over Democratic challenger Joseph Hoeffel. Congressman Bill Shuster retained his seat in the Ninth District with a 61 to 39 percent victory over Democratic challenger Paul Politis. Shuster won by more than 102,000 votes. Local State Representatives Jerry Stern and Larry Sather were also reelected to their legislative seats. Statewide, Republicans retained control of both of the state houses. The GOP was also expecting to retain their five-seat edge in the state’s U.S. Congressional delegation.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
