VOTERS GET THEIR SAY

Few problems reported with new voting machines

Voters — at least some — went to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in off-year local and county elections.

The ballot had county and state judges, local school board, township and borough posts, as well as county commissioners, row officers and district judges.

Voters in Berks and Montgomery counties also cast their vote for the first time with new voting machines required by the state to produce a paper record as an improvement on election security.

Area poll workers said there were few problems and voters adjusted to the change with relative ease.

Upper Pottsgrove voter Michael Carvalho said despite his concerns about the sharpie pen he was given bleeding through the paper ballot, he believes the new system is “OK.”

The Mercury went to press before the polls closed on Tuesday.

Check our website www. pottsmerc.com and Thursday’s print edition for results.

EVAN BRANDT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Pottstown High School seniors Andrew Green standing, left, and Emily Weber, right, volunteered as poll workers at Invictus Ministries Tuesday. Weber, who was voting for the first time, waited until 3:30p.m. so she could be the 100th voter. Also pictured is Rosa Daniels.

EVAN BRANDT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Upper Pottsgrove resident Steve Carvalho, voting at Pottsgrove Middle School Tuesday said although the ink from the sharpie pen bled through his paper ballot, he thinks Montgomery Councy’s new paper voting ballots are “OK.”

EVAN BRANDT — MEDIANEWS GROUP At 3:30p.m., 643voters had cast their ballots at Upper Pottsgrove’s only polling site, Pottsgrove Middle School.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Voters in Spring City could make their voices heard at one of four polling locations including the Spring City Free Public Library.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church on Church Street in Royersford was one of two polling places for Royersford residents on Tuesday.

EVAN BRANDT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Pottstown School Board candidate Steve Kline hands out election materials outside of First Church of the Brethren in on North York Street Tuesday,

EVAN BRANDT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Voter Gertrude Poage, left, thanks poll worker Ken Daniels for his help at the polls at Invictus Ministries in Pottstown Tuesday.