Polls have officially closed in Pennsylvania as voters now turn their attention to watching the results.
Voters in Lackawanna County have found short lines but long ballots when they get to the polls for today's primary election.
On a typical ballot in Scranton, Democrats could darken as many as 29 separate ovals before they answer five referendum questions and choose their preferred candidates for county judge, city council, mayor, school board, county row offices and members of a county government study commission.
"We're hearing, 'This is like a test,'" said Kathy Bufford, judge of elections for Scranton Precinct 20-3 at the John F. Kennedy School.
Next door, judge of elections Marie McIntyre said slow traffic at Precinct 20-2 allowed voters to feel like they can take their time with their choices.
"It's not the basic offices," like the mayor's race, that are time-consuming, but the referendum questions on the shape of county government and a proposed government study commission, she said, adding, "They're not sure of half the people in the referendum."
Voter Caryl Mangialaschi had no trouble choosing her candidates.
"I had everything written in my pocket," she said as she left the school. "Three days I thought it over."
Across town, turnout was also slow but steady at Tripp Elementary School, and poll workers expected a late day increase in traffic.
Voters seemed to be making it all the way through the ballot, election judge Frank Sporer said.
"When we hand them the ballot we tell them it's front and back," he said. "It is a lot of ovals."
Voter Sarah Sheridan laughed about being exhausted by the effort.
"It was long," she said. "Real long."
Joe Losavich said he was expecting to have more choices. An independent, he had only a one-page sheet with referendum questions and the candidates for the study commission.
"I was getting all ready and I didn't even get to vote on the races I wanted," like city council and the mayor, he said.
At Heritage Baptist Church in South Abington Twp., election judge Bruce Hopkins was running out of envelopes to hold all of the spoiled ballots that had been rejected by voters who made an unintended mark. By 2:30 p.m. he'd used eight of his 10 envelopes and elections officials were delivering more.
"In a normal election I might have one or two or none," he said. He attributed the unusually high number of spoiled ballots to voters making errors on the referendum questions or the candidates for the study commission.
Election judge Janine Port at the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church said the voting process is an opportunity for civic education as well as civic participation.
"This is a chance to think about how your local government is structured," she said. "If you're proud enough to come out and vote, take the next step and educate yourself."
In the lobby outside the church hall, voter Jeff Kester was taking the opportunity to educate himself by peering at the sample ballot posted on the wall. He stroked his beard thoughtfully at all the choices.
"This is a little goofy," he said.
County director of elections Marion Medalis said her office fielded normal calls as poll workers started up the voting machines this morning, but she said any minor issues have been resolved.
"All our polls opened on time," she said.
Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com
Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You can find everything you need on primary day at thetimes-tribune.com, including our Voters' Guide, where you can see which candidates will appear on your ballot. Plus, you will get up-to-the-minute results.
Or follow the election on Twitter @timestribune and use the hashtag #NEPAelection.