As of 11:30 a.m. 2,500 mail-in ballots have been processed at the Schuylkill Transportation Center.

Election Board chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington said the second batch of ballots will be processed at 12:30 p.m.

“It’s going very well,” he said.

Election workers were sworn in at 7 a.m., Hetherington said.

More than 20,000 mail-in and absentee ballots were requested by county voters.

They started the monumental task at 9 a.m. Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. If voters are in line, they will have the opportunity to vote. There are 125 precincts in Schuylkill County.

Hetherington said the election office is a busy place.

“People are walking in with their mail-in ballots,” he said.

Hetherington said he has yet to vote, but will do so.

“This is the best thing,” he said of exercising your right to vote.

Schuylkill County election director Albert Gricoski said the polling places are busy, although he hasn’t been to one.

“Be safe. Go out to vote,” Gricoski said.