There are no local contested races in Skaneateles and only one in Spafford, and yet polling places in both towns had heavy voter turnout this morning and early afternoon. Election races for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and state assembly and state senate seats are driving a large number of residents to the polls.

The town of Skaneateles has only one race on this year’s ballot – Charles Major is running unopposed for another term as town justice – but the three polling places in town were busy all morning. At about noon today the Skaneateles Fire Hall had seen about 800 voters, with long lines to sign in at various times throughout the morning, poll workers said.

The Skaneateles YMCA and Community Center polling place had close to 750 voters by 12:30 p.m. “It’s been a really busy, heavy turnout,” said polling place supervisor Mary Nordone. The Mottville Fire Hall polling place had seen about 450 voters by 1 p.m., and had been “busy, very busy,” said volunteer Dot Pitman.

At Spafford’s lone polling place, the town hall, today at noon the parking lot was completely full with a line of people waiting to check in. Poll workers estimated they had had almost 500 people vote since polls opened in the morning.

Spafford does have one local race on this year’s ballot, with Republican Guy Pitman running against Democrat Kathleen Jacques for Spafford Town Justice.

All poles close at 9 p.m. tonight. The Skaneateles Press will post election results online as soon as they are known.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].