Voters hope to have Primary impact

The deadline for registering for and changing political parties has passed, but the numbers are still coming in.

From the first of the year to March 25 there have been 110 party changes and 152 new voters registered in Potter County, explained Sandra Lewis, director of elections and voter registration.

Lewis also said that 133 applications for absentee ballots had been sent out, and usually all of those are returned. The absentee ballots include military and remote voters. The number is up 93 percent from the 69 absentee ballots in the '07 primaries and up 101 percent from the 63 absentee ballots in '04, which was the last presidential primary, Lewis said.

Results for the total registered voters and party changes were not final as of Tuesday.

Residents leery of the voting machines still have opportunities to practice before the April 22 primary.

The demonstration in Coudersport will be from 6 to 8 p.m. April 2 at the Coudersport High School. A demonstration is tentatively scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. April 3 at the Oswayo Valley High School, Lewis said, but because of the Easter break she had not been able to confirm the date with the school.

Demonstrations were previously held in Austin, Galeton and Ulysses.

Any resident unable to make the meetings may practice on the machine in the voter registration office at the Potter County Courthouse during regular business hours.

Lewis noted the two candidates for the state treasurer position on the Democrat ballot won their court cases that were preventing the ballots from being certified, however appeals have been filed on both.

The certification for the ballot has been approved by the state, but Lewis said until the cases are final she would not be releasing the names on the ballots for either party.