LEWISTOWN - Tuesday's general election generated a number of problems at several of Mifflin County's polling places.
Nancy Laub, director of voter registration and elections, was in attendance at Thursday's workshop meeting of the Mifflin County Commissioners to report complaints her office received from voters who had to endure long lines and extensive waiting time in order to cast their ballots.
"We encountered problems at some of the polling places," Laub reported. "Primarily from people having to wait for quite a while to vote."
Laub said part of the problem was simply in the numbers.
"We had a historic turnout," she said. "In my 11 years in this job, this was the most I've ever seen by far."
Laub said the average turnout in the county looks to be in the 65 percent range.
"We don't have the formal numbers as of yet because the final computations will take place (Friday)," Laub said. "It's a presidential election and that historically brings the highest turnout."
In an effort to stem these kinds of problems in the future, Laub said the board of elections will immediately begin to study ways to eliminate long waits in future elections.
"We will be looking into procedures in the hope that long lines don't happen again," she stated.
Laub said even with the long lines, most voters understood what was going on and she praised the poll workers at POLLS several precincts.
"I really appreciate the efforts of the poll workers at a number of the precincts," she said. "They did a really good job considering the circumstances."
And the commissioners also appreciated the county's election staff.
"I echo the sentiments of Nancy," Commissioner Mark Sunderland said. "Everybody did a very good job under trying circumstances. We will look into resolving these issues in the future."
Following Laub's remarks, Sunderland announced the following agenda item to be considered at the commissioners' business meeting on Nov. 15:
Reappointments of the following individuals to the Mifflin County Hospital Authority for five year terms: Mark Merrifield, Lewistown; Dan Dunmire, Burnham; and Harvey Eckert, Lewistown.
