Doors opened at polling places across Southwestern Pennsylvania this morning as voters considered candidates for a variety of local races, from county executives to judges to school board members.

6 p.m. More donuts than voters might be found at the West View polling locations but campaigners and volunteers aren’t discouraged.

The aroma of sugar coated pastries and coffee floats in the air, reinforcing the need volunteers have for caffeine when faced with a long voting day. At the West View Senior Citizen Tower, Carolyn Wolf, 67, is the Judge of Elections as well as a resident. Wolf who is originally from Beaver says it has been a slow day but is excited about the 15 seniors living in the building that came downstairs to vote. “More seniors from the building voted this year but less people from the community voted, she recalled.

At around 6 p.m. 147 people had voted at the senior citizen living facility which is a little lower than the 197 that voted at West View Elementary School.

Judge of Elections at Westview Elementary, Alice Aguglia, 67, has been volunteering since 1992 and is committed to the community. “I’m disappointed that not more people came in to vote,” she said.

Alison Kilmartin, 34, of Westview is competing with four candidates for three seats on West View’s Borough Council. Kilmartin says she has been running around all day putting up signs and shaking the hands of voters. “I don’t think there are any huge problems with the community besides the sidewalks, I just love it and want to be a part of improving it,” Kilmartin said.

3:29 p.m. At Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, campaign volunteers stood outside, ready to open the doors for anyone coming in to vote in the mid-afternoon.

Inside, elections officials say the turnout so far was above average.

“It’s been heavier than normal,” said Majority Clerk Lou Kammermeier, 57, of Dormont.

Shortly after 3 P.M., 110 people had voted in District 2, 78 had voted in District 7, and 73 had voted in District 8. Officials cited a number of reasons for higher voter turnout, including recent turmoil in Dormont Council.

The recent decision by Keystone Oaks School Board to consolidate the district’s elementary schools was also cited as a possible reason for more voters coming to the polls.

12:31 p.m.: Voters were lined up waiting for the polls to open at the 3,100-voter Denison precinct at SonRise Church in Unity this morning.

By 11 a.m., about 300 people had voted.

“It comes in spurts, but it’s been good,” said minority inspector Fran Gigliotti.

Among the voters were Mike and Laura Anthony, who said they vote in every election regardless of the races or the weather.

“We’re always here,” said Laura Anthony, 65. “It’s such a privilege, so that’s why we’re here. We’re happy to come and vote.”

Voters also were finding their way to Hempfield Township’s No. 2 Alwine precinct despite its recent move to the North Hempfield Fire Department.

About 236 of the 2,500 voters in that precinct had cast ballots by 11:30.

“We’re about where I figured we would be,” said judge of elections Ted Short.

11:57 a.m.: Poll workers at the Carbon Fire Hall in Hempfield Township said they have seen a steady stream of people through the morning and expect that pace to remain consistent throughout the rest of the day.

A voter takes a card from a campaigner who is supporting their local candidate at the Carbon Fire Hall.

Campaigners wait for voters at the Greensburg YMCA Annex

As of late morning, 156 people had voted, which is more than in the same timeframe for the spring primary, poll workers said. The district has 2,500 people registered to vote.

At the Greensburg YMCA Annex, poll workers said they have seen less people come through the door than expected. Of 3,006 registered voters, only 81 had appeared. Still, poll workers said they have seen a steady trickle of people and haven’t gone five minutes without someone coming in to vote.

At both venues, campaign workers are waiting for voters to arrive in order to sway undecided voters toward their candidates. Both places expect the flow of people to pick up around suppertime when voters get off work.

10:56 a.m.: Calls are sparse this morning at Allegheny County Elections Court, Downtown.

However, Common Pleas Judge Paul F. Lutty ordered the removal of signs from Robinson polling places that endorsed a slate of candidates for township supervisors and school board members.

The signs, paid for by former candidates, lacked the required disclaimer and specificity stating who paid for them, the judge ruled. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to remove the signs.

10:47 a.m.: The Westmoreland County Election Bureau reports that voter turnout is slow but steady this morning.

No problems developed at the polls in 306 precincts, other than minor problems with more than 820 touch-screen computers used by voters to cast their ballots, said bureau Director James Montini.

“Everything is going smoothly and the turnout seems to be what we expected,” he said.

Montini had predicted a 35 percent turnout, a 7 percent increase over four years ago, when turnout was dampened by cold, rainy weather.

In Sunset Valley Elementary School in North Huntingdon, poll workers described turnout as typical for an off-year election. By about 9 a.m., about 70 out of 1,600 voters had cast ballots.

The Norwin School District is closed today, so many voters were accompanied by their children.

9:55 a.m.: Seventeen people had voted at one of the districts within Shadyside Honda in Bloomfield by about 9 a.m. Poll workers expected about 150 of the 561 registered voters to cast a ballot today.

Friendship resident Dave Rohlfing said that while the Pittsburgh library tax — the Carnegie Library is asking for a 0.25-mill increase to generate $3.25 million annually — was important to him, he voted because “it’s just what you do.”

“Local elections are important because they have more of an effect on day-to-day life sometimes than national elections,” Rohlfing, 30, said.

8:45 a.m.: Only one man was waiting for the polls to open in Middlesex Township, Butler County, this morning. The chill did not deter Harold Griffin, 85, who was clad in a leather jacket that matched his motorcycle in the lot.

“I vote every election,” he said.

The primary issue discussed by workers and the few voters who filtered into the polling place  was the disposition of the township supervisor’s seat held by Mark Vincent, who is on the ballot but relocating to Florida.

Some workers speculated that write-in votes could decide the seat, but the matter was quickly addressed by election judge Karin Callithen.

“If Mark Vincent wins, the supervisors will appoint someone to fill his seat,” she said.

Callithen said that county election officials are expecting about a 30 percent turnout, but anticipated Middlesex would be higher, around 40 percent.

“We are usually a little higher than the projections,” Callithen said. “We have good voters in Middlesex who turn out.”

There is also a countywide vote for Butler County commissioner on the ballot.

7:45 a.m.: At the Linden Elementary School in Point Breeze, Claire Staples, 63, wasn’t optimistic about voter turnout.

“There’s a large number of people who only vote in presidential elections and

When the polls opened at the south precinct of Middlesex Twp, no voters were present.

its getting worse. Its sad,” said the Democratic committeewoman from Squirrel Hill. “The distaste for government seems to be part of the plan. People get discouraged.”

However, Louisa Fitzgerald of Squirrel Hill was beaming this morning as she cast her first-ever vote.

“It was nerve-wracking, exciting. I was registered on my 18th birthday,” said the daughter of Allegheny County executive candidate Rich Fitzgerald. “I’m excited to see what happens. I was so glad I got to cast my first vote.”

Harold Griffin, 85 waited for the polls to open at the North Precinct of Middlesex Twp., Butler County.

Voting machines stand ready.

Reporters Adam Cagle, Colleen Ferguson, Emily Myers, Darlene Natale and Ed Neuhaus of the Point Park News Service contributed to this story. View it on the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review site.