Several Carbon County officeholders locked up re-election bids during the primary election held on May 16, while the polls saw lower voter turnout.

New Elections Director Jennifer Ketchledge, said she wasn’t sure why it was lower than expected but said that the election was running smoothly.

A total of 9,603 votes were casted in the closed primary, representing a turnout of 22.52%.

Ketchledge said that she was feeling confident in her first election since taking over the office.

“I feel like we’ve done everything that we possibly could to make it a lot easier this year,” she said.

Most candidates in county races ran unopposed for their respective offices. The vote tallies are as follows:

Commissioner

Democrats Rocky Ahner, 3,178 votes, and Jeff Schnaiter, 2,297 votes, won nominations.

Republicans Wayne E. Nothstein, an incumbent, received 4,420 votes, and Michael J. Sofranko, 3,612 votes.

Ahner and Schnaiter will face Nothstein and Sofranko in the General Election, with three people to win four-year terms.

Controller

Democrat Sam Lux, 3,151 votes, will face Republican Kayla Herman, who received 4,494 votes on Tuesday.

Recorder of Deeds

Republican incumbent Donna L. Gentile received 4,592 votes. A total of 154 write-ins were also cast on the Democratic ticket.

Coroner

Democrat incumbent Robert W. Miller Jr. garnered 3,263 votes to win the nomination for his party.

A total of 864 write-in votes were cast on the Republican ticket, meaning Miller may have an opponent in the General Election.

District Attorney

Incumbent Republican Michael Greek received 4,707 votes.

A total of 247 write-in votes were cast on the Democratic ticket.

Prothonotary

Incumbent Republican Kayla Semmel, received 4,518 votes to secure her nomination.

A total of 111 write-in votes were cast on the Democratic ticket.