McKean County was one of many across Pennsylvania to receive an emailed bomb threat on Election Day.
According to McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer, local officials have been in contact with other counties as well as state and federal agencies to determine the veracity of the threat. Dogs searched the building and surrounding area, and ruled out a threat to the McKean County Courthouse.
Clearfield and Cameron counties also confirmed receipt of the threat. In Clearfield County, a motion was granted for emergency special relief to extend voting hours to 9 p.m., according to Stacey Witalec, director of communications with Pennsylvania Courts. In Cameron County, authorities evacuated the courthouse and established a cautionary perimeter.
Otherwise, McKean County voters turned out Tuesday and cast their ballots with few issues, according to Shaffer. The McKean County Board of Elections reports any suspicious circumstances to the district attorney.
Shaffer said she was contacted last week by a voter who had requested a mail-in ballot, but had not received it. The issue was resolved successfully at the elections office.
On Election Day, a poll worker reported a voter having campaign materials inside a polling place. Under Pennsylvania law, Shaffer explained, campaign materials must be kept at least 10 feet from where voting occurs.
“Most people are familiar with seeing people with campaign materials in the parking lot or outside of the building when they’re voting, but the law prevents this material from being within 10 feet,” Shaffer said, adding the worker requested the materials be removed and the voter complied.
McKean County Director of Elections Brett Perry told The Era previously that the county was ready for the election, expecting high turnout but no real security concerns.
Some local voters on social media reported waiting to vote from no time at all to as long as 3 hours.
Lafayette Township’s judge of elections, Carol Clark, said she had never before seen the number of voters that turned out Tuesday in the 40 years she has been working at the poll.
The township is home to 720 registered voters and, as of 6:30 p.m., 574 had cast a ballot, just shy of 80%.
