Lansdale Area Voters Brave Long Lines, Confusion On Election Day

LANSDALE, PA — Amidst chilly winds and the resurgent coronavirus pandemic, voters turned out in droves across Montgomery County and the Lansdale early Tuesday to make their voices heard in a historic 2020 election.

Many voters reported a voting process, while others waited in long, socially distant lines that wound around for blocks and became quickly convoluted when officials tried to separate lines into alphabetical groups.

At Penndale Middle School, Lansdale resident Laura White stood in the wrong line for around 20 minutes. As early as 7 a.m., she said line ran from the entrance of the school and around the parking lot, all the way down to Church Road. Two long lines continued at the location past 3 p.m.

"I waited for 20 minutes until an official came by announcing sector 1-3 was to go to the front of the line because they were a separate line," White said. "From there I waited about 20 more minutes. I had let two people in front of me, because they were in the wrong line."

Another Penndale voter, who encountered about an 80 minute wait in the morning, agreed the lines were confusing.

"One improvement would be better signage — or any signage — as to which line one should join," said Krista Hoblitzell. "There is literally no direction that there is an 'A-L' line and an 'M-Z' line."

Over at the Montgomery Township municipal building, voter Tony Correnti suggested poll workers open a separate service window for any individuals having issues with their mail-in ballot, or voters who needed assistance.

"Both parties in line were friendly," he said. "Overall, a good experience."

Inside at Penndale, White said things ran smoothly — tape on the floors kept things socially distant, and pens were wiped down after voters returned them. She added that one poll worker helped an elderly woman who was at the wrong polling place find out where she needed to go.

"No matter who everyone was voting for, it was inspiring to see so many people out to vote," White added.