HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS A polling precinct at the Milesburg Community Center is pictured on Tuesday afternoon.

LOCK HAVEN — Precincts in Clinton and Centre County reported lower-than-average turnout during yesterday’s midterm primary election.

Midterm primary elections typically draw fewer voters than general elections or primaries during presidential election years, but the lack of competitive races on the ballot appeared to further dampen participation Tuesday.

Many of the highest-profile races locally on Tuesday’s ballot, including contests for governor, Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District and seats in the state House, featured Democratic and Republican candidates running unopposed.

Poll workers at precincts visited by The Express in Lock Haven, Howard, Milesburg and Bellefonte each described a quiet Election Day.

As of noon, just 23 voters had cast ballots in person in Lock Haven’s 1st Ward, which poll workers said was particularly low for the downtown precinct. In Howard, 34 voters had cast ballots by about halfway through the day.

“It’s a slow day,” said Brian Yangula, who was stumping outside the Howard Fire Company’s fire station for Michelle Schellberg in the Centre County Republican chair race. “It’s amazing how many people don’t show up.”

At the Milesburg Community Center, about 40 voters had cast ballots by midday. Poll workers there said the precinct typically sees between 150 and 200 voters during a primary election, leading them to project turnout at less than half of its usual total.

“It’s a primary, we expect it to be lower,” said Sarah Roberts, a poll worker in Milesburg.

At Bellefonte Northeast, voter Abigail Knapp said she was the 68th person to cast a ballot that afternoon.

Pennsylvania’s last midterm primary election in 2022 saw about 28% registered voter turnout statewide, according to the States United Democracy Center. The state’s 2024 presidential primary drew 1,976,401 voters, or about 22% of registered voters, while the 2022 midterm, which had unusually high participation, saw 2,583,752 voters cast ballots.

In Pennsylvania, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in state primaries.

As of May 18, Clinton County had 22,516 registered voters, including 6,062 Democrats and 13,319 Republicans, according to state voter registration data. Centre County meanwhile had 102,031 registered voters, including 41,457 Democrats and 41,888 Republicans.

The winners of Tuesday’s primary will face each other during the Nov. 3 general election.