UPDATE: Voter Turnout 'Terrible' on Election Day

UPDATE at 4 p.m.:

Voter turnout had varying results as of 4 p.m. on Election Day, with workers for districts 9 and 13 (polls at the ) reporting about a 10 percent turnout with four hours remaining.

"It's been slow," said district 9 worker Tom Smith. "They're trickling in, but I think the after school and after work crowd will pick up a bit."

Over at the building, workers for district 12 said the turnout thus far had been "terrible."

The workers said less than 10 percent of voters in that district had voted so far.

Susan Baechtel, a poll worker for district 6, also at the fire house, said the turnout so far seemed worse than the June Primary Election.

Those who did turn out to vote, however, made their reasons clear as to why.

"I told my grandkids, 'this is the group of Republicans, this is the group of Democrats,'" said Jim Botti after voting. "I said, 'if you vote for the Democrats, you're supporting Obama. And we don't want to do that.'"

Botti said another reason he voted all Republican was because he's anti-Obama policies, and is tired of entitlement programs.

"My kids are both doctors. They work very hard and built up a huge debt in college," Botti said. "But now, why should they be penalized for studying and working hard? That's not fair."

Former Washington Township Committeeman Howard Popper was one of the few casting a vote in district 12, and said he also went all-GOP in this election.

"I think we have a strong slate here," Popper said. "I think Margaret (Nordstrom) has proven herself, and Tracy (Tobin) provides good longevity and history to the township committee. He'll be a good addition."

Election Day, 10:30 a.m.

Polls were showing a slow turnout Tuesday morning, according to workers at Washington Township’s districts 1, 2, 4 and 5 voting centers.

A total of 162 voters had made their decisions at Fairmount Firehouse before 10:30 a.m., home of districts 1 and 2.

Locally, between and to occupy a vacant, three-year seat on the Washington Township Committee.

“I think we’re at the same pace as the [June] primary,” said Stu Slifkin, attending his fifth election as a poll worker. “We were light on the ‘go-to-work’ crowd, which usually comes between 6 and 8:30 (a.m.).”

The pattern was the same at the Washington Township Municipal Building, home of districts 4 and 5, with the latter having the largest contingent of voters in the municipality.

There had been only 70 voters at district 5 by 10 a.m., according to poll worker Chris Kitzerow.

“I vote for everything I can,” said resident Frank Carfaro at the Fairmount Firehouse. “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a say in anything. It’s our right and our duty to make these decisions, and if you don’t then you don’t have a say in anything.”

Carfaro, a registered Republican, said he voted along party lines this election, but that’s not always the case.

“I just vote for who I think should be in there, not just because of their party,” he said.

While Carfaro voted for Morris County Freeholder incumbent Margaret Nordstrom, who is being challenged by Democrat Truscha Quatrone, he did say that the summer-long battle between her and Hank Lyon over the rightful winner of the June Primary Election did diminish his support for her slightly.