"Pretty quiet, in essence," agreed Terry Williamson, spokesman for the district attorney's office who said that agency had received 17 complaints by 10 a.m. for minor problems - compared with 47 by that time in the last presidential primary election (1984).
Checks with polling places throughout the city backed up Voigt and Williamson.
"Pretty slow turnout," said an election official at the 25th Ward's 12th Division at the Leprechaun Club, 2973 Gaul St., in Port Richmond, adding that less than 35 voters had turned out by mid-morning, compared with close to 100 in previous primaries.
"Not many yet. Maybe they'll show up later. The interest just ain't there this time," said a worker at the 1st Ward, 16th Division, 1401 S. 6th St. in South Philadelphia.
"A little slow," said Judge of Elections George Pierce in the 66th Ward's 5th Division in Northeast Philadelphia.
In West Philadelphia, 60th Ward Committeeman Eldridge Johnson said early voting was "light to moderate" at the 13th Division. At the 47th Ward's 7th Division in North Philadelphia, Committeewoman Connie Barber called it ''moderate . . . about normal compared to past elections."
Slightly heavier voter turnouts were reported in Southwest Philadelphia, where the 40th Ward, 51st Division's Republican committeeman Joseph Lemon called it "a moderate, steady crowd;" and in Fairmount, where a voter said it appeared to be "a decent turnout" at the 15th Ward's 16th Division.
Dukakis is hoping for a big victory over Jackson in the Democratic contest, while Vice President George Bush, facing only token opposition, may pick up enough delegates in the Republican primary to guarantee his nomination.
The weather across the state was generally fair as the voters turned out to pick candidates for state, local and party offices as well as delegates for the presidential conventions.
