Montgomery Co. On Track For 'Very High' Voter Turnout, Officials Believe

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County looks to be on track for a very high voter turnout, at least according to one of its county commissioners and elections chief.

The county has made plain its aspiration of setting not just a record turnout for itself, but getting the highest voter turnout nationwide.

See also: When To Expect Final 2024 Election Results In Montgomery County

"Everyone’s asking, what are you seeing in PA?" Makhija shared on social media Tuesday afternoon. "All indications suggest Montgomery County is on track for VERY high turnout. That’s all I got right now. The people are voting!!"

Upper Merion Supervisor Greg Waks concurred, and estimated that it's been about an 80 percent turnout.

"The lines aren't as long now in Upper Merion Township (King of Prussia) in Montgomery County, PA," he said. "That's because the number of people who haven't voted is very small. 80% turnout. This is very, very good for (Kamala Harris and Tim Walz)."

Both Waks and Makhija are Democrats. Republicans share the optimism for high voter turnout, but believe it bodes better for their side.

"Stay in line 4th District, do not let the Democrats intimidate you," David Winkler, the GOP challenger to Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, said Tuesday night. "We are seeing great numbers in Montgomery County & we could possibly flip the District."

Winkler also said he was seeing a lot of "Men" at the polls, which he believed indicated GOP victory.

At the polls

No major issues or threats had been reported at polling places in Montgomery County as of the early evening, despite the tumultuous lead-up to Election Day. The county had reported "uncomfortable" incidents at some sites, and law enforcement was present at ballot boxes and polling places around the county Tuesday in an effort to prevent voter intimidation.

Related: 'Uncomfortable' Interactions, Filming Near Montgomery Co. Voting Sites

Voting machines and vote gathering itself seems to also be going smoothly. Commissioner Tom DiBello shared behind the scenes photos Tuesday with volunteers. "At central processing overseeing mail in ballots being processed," he said.

The turnout

Of course, there is no way to yet prove the optimistic claims of Makhija about big turnout. The available data right now is either tertiary, like mail-in balloting numbers, or subjective, like reports of crowds at polling places around the county.

However, both indicators do suggest a large turnout.

For full coverage of the election in Pennsylvania, go here.

A total of 165,408 mail-in ballots have already been returned in the county, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. While that's far fewer mail-ins than the pandemic-impacted 2020 election, it also already far outstrips the 2022 mail-in turnout in the county of around 116,000. And 2024 mail-ins will continue to be received until 8 p.m. Tuesday, so thousands more are likely.

Meanwhile, multiple locations in the county did experience long lines Tuesday, particularly when they first opened. At Gwynedd Square Elementary School in Lansdale, lines extended down the block before 7 a.m., voters said.

Some polling places were quieter by the afternoon, with no line or crowds at Norristown's Hancock Fire Company just after lunch.

In-person voters Tuesday were also treated to artistic "MONTCO VOTES" stickers, which were designed by schoolchildren from across Montgomery County in collaboration with the nonprofit Fresh Artists.

“These 100 percent kid-designed art stickers will remind voters that they are voting for our children’s future," said Barbara Chandler Allen, the president of Fresh Artists.

To find out where your polling place is, see here.