Hatboro, Horsham Polls See 'Unprecedented' Turnout

Recently retired Hatboro Democratic Committeeman John Demcisak stood in the cold outside of Crooked Billet Elementary School waiting to talk to incoming voters.

"I couldn't stay away from this election," said Demcisak, a former Hatboro Borough Councilman, with an Obama sticker prominently displayed on his coat. 

Apparently, the voters that filled the hallways of polling places in Hatboro and Horsham had the same sentiment. 

"It's been busy all day," Hatboro Borough Councilman and Republican Committeeman Mark Sheedy told Patch as he greeted voters walking into the school at noon on Tuesday. "This is unprecedented. Usually you have your lulls throughout the day."

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By noon, Hatboro election officials said about 500 people had voted at the school.

Nancy Alonge, the judge of elections at Hallowell Elementary School in Horsham, saw a similar response. Of 1,002 registered voters, Alonge said 454 had voted as of 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. 

"This is probably the best turnout I've ever seen," said Alonge, who's been working the polls for 30 years. 

When the polls opened there are 7 a.m., Alonge said people were lined up and 100 people had voted within the first 40 minutes. 

Horsham district 3-2 on Witmer Road saw a similar Election Day opening. Voters waited inside the Korean church for the moment when votes could be cast. 

Horsham Township Councilman and Republican Committeeman Mark McCouch estimated that the school would see "900 plus" voters at Hallowell by the time polls close. 

"I'm seeing people I've never seen before and that's because they only come every four years," said McCouch, who has been working polls for 12 years. Even the district's 110 "other," or non-partisan voters are turning out, he said. 

"Believe it or not, they're coming out," he said. 

Democrat Robert Hoeksema who was handing out literature to Hallowell voters, said he was "very happy" with the high voter turnout. 

"We should be fined if we don't vote," Hoeksema said.