Lehigh Valley Turnout Very Heavy

When I voted this morning at 9 AM, I was voter #186. Considering that there were just 377 total votes in my precinct during last November's general election, it's safe to say turn out is heavy. Here are some of the reports I've been getting.

Forks Township Community Center - "wall to wall" people early this morning.

Forks Township Lutheran Church - One voter who appeared at 7 AM waited 1 hour, 40 minutes to cast her vote. Her husband, who arrived at 9 AM, tells me the parking lot was packed and the place was "mobbed" by 200 - 300 people wrapped around the church. He'll try again later.

Hellertown Assembly of God - At 10:40 AM, a voter was unable to get into the parking lot. People are just parking in driveways and walking to vote. He's currently standing in line outside the church. He is #400 of 1,300 registered voters in his precinct, and tells me that turnout might be 80 to 85% before the day is out.

South Whitehall Township - one hour wait at 7 AM, although line is diminished by 8 AM.

Allentown's Good Shepherd - 25 minute wait at 8:15 AM.

Lopactong, N.J. - voting is steady, but not heavy.

Updates:

11:11 AM Update:

Bushkill Township Elementary - Two voters went to Bushkill Elementary at 8 AM, where two different precincts vote. One woman stood in one of two unmarked lines for an hour, only to learn that she had been in the wrong line. She went to the other line, and only waited about 20 minutes there. The other voter tells me he'll be back later in the day.

Back to Hellertown Assembly of God - Twenty people waiting to vote inside and another twenty-five or so waiting outside. Hellertown voter tells me "a lot of the people standing in line are very unhappy." They don't say who they are voting for, but are complaining about the economy.

11:39 AM Update: AJ tells me he voted at East Hills in Bethlehem. He arrived at 7:25 AM, and waited about an hour before voting. He tells me there were a lot of first-time voters and a lot of people just left because of the long lines.

12:48 PM Update: AJ tells me lines are now one hour long at East Hills Middle School in Bethlehem. Alan Earshaw reports he was Voter #283 at 8:45AM in Macungie. Twenty people were in line behind him, and that's at a precinct with seven voting machines going. According to The Morning Call, there are long lines and many people are also casting provisional ballots.