web1_Ted-Wampole.jpg

Wilkes-Barre City administrator Wampole in line for county job

web1_lindahouck.jpeg

Luzerne County Children and Youth fiscal problems discussed

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Voter turnout was 52.45 percent in Luzerne County on Tuesday, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations for a midterm election.</p><p>Of the 207,482 registered voters in the county &#8212; 106,237 Democrats, 76,226 Republicans and 25,019 unaffiliated or other voters &#8212; 108,819 cast ballots.</p><p>In addition, Luzerne County Election Director Marisa Crispell said the number of absentee ballots increased &#8212; not just in Luzerne County, but across the state.</p><p>For Tuesday&#8217;s election, Crispell&#8217;s office issued 5,266 absentee ballots, with 4,262 returning their completed ballots by the Nov. 2 deadline. In comparison, the county issued 2,430 absentee ballots in the last midterm general election in 2014.</p><p>The county&#8217;s voter turnout was 39 percent in the 2014 midterm general, a decrease from 51 percent in 2010 and 50 percent in 2006. Crispell has noted that the 2010 turnout may have been higher due to the vote on whether to switch to a county home rule structure, which passed.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_CrispellCMYK.cropped-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crispell </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_CrispellCMYK.cropped-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Crispell </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County voter turnout exceeds 52 percent