It's almost over.
After a campaign season that seemed at times like it would never end, voters in Northeast Pennsylvania head to the polls today to help elect a president, choose members of Congress and the Legislature, and fill three statewide row offices.
Polls locally and statewide are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The weather will be cooperative, if seasonably chilly. The National Weather Service forecast called for sunny skies and highs approaching the mid-40s.
Lackawanna County director of elections Marion Medalis said she anticipates today's voter turnout will not match the 2008 level.
With Pennsylvania considered a pivotal battleground state four years ago, 69 percent of the county's registered voters cast ballots in the White House race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. The presidential contest between Mr. Obama and Republican Mitt Romney is still the marquee matchup today, but it has not generated the same intensity.
As the campaign ended its final hours, someone apparently was trying to confuse voters in the county.
Mrs. Medalis said the Department of Elections fielded questions from more than 20 people who received telephone calls Sunday or Monday telling them their polling places had changed for the election.
Not true, Mrs. Medalis said. All of the polling places for today's election are the same as they were for the primary in April.
"We have not moved any polling place or anything like that," Mrs. Medalis said.
She said anyone with a question about their polling location may call the elections office at 963-6737. Voters can also confirm their registration and polling place online at www.votespa.com.
Mrs. Medalis said some voters who applied for absentee ballots may also have received a mysterious call that - again - did not come from her office.
Fran Kovaleski, the county's deputy register of wills, said she received a recorded phone message at her home Sunday telling her the absentee ballot she cast would not be valid because the forms had changed. The message instructed her to contact the elections office.
"I really thought at that point it was voter registration calling," said Ms. Kovaleski, who learned the office had nothing to do with the call when she contacted Mrs. Medalis on Monday.
U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith announced last month that his office in Scranton will be monitoring complaints about election fraud and voting rights abuses related to today's election.
The public can make complaints to Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Houser at 348-2800, ext. 244.
Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com