Turnout was light to moderate throughout the West End in Monroe County for the primary election on Tuesday.

Teresa Daly, the president of the West End Democratic Association in Brodheadsville, was at Chestnuthill Township’s Precinct 3 at the municipal building, and wished more people had showed up to vote.

“As my mom used to say, ‘If you don’t vote, you can’t complain,’ ” Daly said. “Democracy isn’t a spectator sport.”

Daly said municipal elections are important, too.

“There’s no off year, because there’s always people running,” she said.

Karl Menear, who voted in Precinct 4 at the Chestnuthill Township park building, said he usually comes out to the primary elections.

The primaries determine which of the candidates from the Democrat and Republican parties will face off in the general election in November.

“I just wanted to be able to choose who was running,” Menear said.

Over at the Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company, Gregory Williams said he and his wife, Sarah, try to vote at every election.

“It starts at the local level,” Williams said. “The local level is just as important as the presidential.”

Thomas and Kelly Kosa of Polk Township said they came out because they feel it is their duty as citizens, and Thomas added they feel guilty if they don’t.

“Can’t complain if you don’t do it,” Thomas Kosa said. “November, that’s where it’s for all the marbles.”

The candidates were out at the polls, too, and their families.

Juliana Balinski, whose husband, Galen Balinski, was running for Ross Township supervisor, was at Precinct 1 at Mount Eaton Church social hall with their two little children, Judah and Aletheia. Galen was at Precinct 2 at the Ross Township Municipal Building.

“We love Ross Township,” Juliana said. “We just want to keep it charming and affordable.”

Also at Mount Eaton was Greg Gill’s daughter-in-law Robyn Gill. Greg is also running for the same seat. Like Galen, he was at the municipal building.

“The community has asked me to step up and run,” Greg Gill said. “Just trying to give the township a backbone.”

At the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company, Jessica Keller was running as a write-in candidate on the Republican ticket for a two-year seat for Eldred Township supervisor. Near her was Alyssa Meadows, who was on the ballot for the Democrats for the same seat.

Current Supervisor Gary Hoffman is not running for reelection, so Supervisor Susan McGinty is running for his seat, a six-year term. She was selected by the supervisors to fill the seat left when Supervisor Blaine Silfies resigned. McGinty’s two-year term seat is the one Keller and Meadows are eyeing.

“This opportunity presented itself,” Keller said. “I’m excited to learn more and participate in the community.”

Meadows, 35, decided to run in order to get a younger perspective on the board. She thinks Millennials and people younger than her care about politics, but they don’t think people older than them listen and respect their opinions. A friend in another state told her that is why she isn’t going to vote.

“I make sure I don’t miss a primary, but I think I’m an outlier,” Meadows said.