Officials surprised over higher than expected voter turnout

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The rallies are done, the ads have aired, and now it's nearly time to count the ballots.

In South Philadelphia late Tuesday, the voter turnout at a Packer Park polling place was far exceeding the expectations of Veteran Ward Leader Ron Donatucci who says he is getting reports of the same thing in key wards across the city.

"I am surprised. I knew from my committeemen canvassing that people would say they would be out. But again, it's been consistent," Donatucci said.

"We try our best. It's going pretty good. It's pretty busy," Republican poll worker Mike McCall said.

In Parkside, it was the same story of far heavier than expected voter turnout.

"They were out standing in line before the doors open," poll judge Monica Carvajal said.

In the near suburb, the turnout far exceeds the numbers that midterm elections normally generate.

"The turnout is surprisingly heavy. We haven't had long periods of complete silence at all and we have 30 people at the door when the polls open at 7:00 a.m.," judge Maryellen Yuhas said.