Voters across Erie County headed to the polls on Tuesday for Pennsylvania\u2019s primary election.<\/p>\n
Voters we spoke with said they felt this election was an important opportunity to make their voices heard.<\/p>\n
Throughout the day here at various locations, voters came through to cast their ballots, with many expressing a mix of concern and hope about the future.<\/p>\n
When polls opened, voters in Erie County made their way to polling locations to take part in Pennsylvania\u2019s primary election.<\/p>\n
WATCH: Jozef Korzeniewski live as voting begins in Erie County <\/a><\/p>\n Many voters said issues like the economy, public safety, education and the direction of government helped motivate them to head to the polls, with some missing only a handful of elections in their lifetime.<\/p>\n \u201cEver since I turned 21, I\u2019ve been voting. I\u2019ve only missed one general election and I\u2019ve missed not only a handful of primaries,\u201d Judith Himrod, who voted.<\/p>\n Most of the voters we spoke to on Tuesday said that they don\u2019t feel like just a number; they feel like their vote actually matters, as this May primary election helps set up the elections in November.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everybody, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a secret, about how, you know, different the political affiliations are kind of going back and forth, so right now I think it\u2019s probably one of the most times in my lifetime to vote,\u201d said John Scheppner, another voter.<\/p>\n Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what we have, it\u2019s one of our rights that we felt and we elect the people we want to run our country and our city,\u201d Himrod told us.<\/p>\n While voters had different priorities heading into today\u2019s election, many we spoke with shared a similar message when asked what they hope elected leaders take away from the results.<\/p>\n \u201cMore people are keeping an eye on these, I don\u2019t want to say low lying elections, but you know, not so popular elections. But you know by more of us coming out compared to prior years, they\u2019re going to realize we\u2019re listening to what you\u2019re saying and we\u2019re watching what you\u2019re doing,\u201d Scheppner went on to say.<\/p>\n