WAYNE & PIKE COUNTIES, PA —  It's election day, and there's plenty up for grabs and up to Pennsylvania voters.

Besides the presidential election, the race between Matt Cartwright and Rob Bresnahan for the House of Representatives is projected to be close. Closer to home, Jeff Olsommer is battling Robin Skibber to retain his seat in Pennsylvania's State House, representing Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties. 

So far, Wayne and Pike County voters have turned out en-masse to their local polling places, with many highlighting the importance of the day's voting. 

Jamie Crum said she cast her ballot in Beach Lake because she wants—and needs—a change. 

"It never mattered to me before, but the way the economy is for us as business owners," it matters to her now, she said. This is the second election in which Crum has voted; she tried to vote the time before that as well, but wasn't registered. 

Another Beach Lake voter, Jerry, said he has voted every year since he was first eligible.. 

It's a civic responsibility, Jerry said: "That's how we get to pick the a**holes that spend all our money."

Jerry moved to Pennsylvania from New York City, and said it never felt like his vote counted before. "My vote counts here, which is different."

For Kyleigh, 24, in Lackawaxen, this is the second election she's voted in. "This is an election I need to vote for," she said. 

She hopes that the world opens its eyes and more rights and freedoms are secured. 

As voters went to the polls, both parties had members out in force. 

Matt Cartwright and Robin Skibber showed up seperately to the Blooming Grove polling place in the mid afternoon.

"It's been a long, hard campaign," said Cartwright.

He said he's had good interactions with constituents on the campaign trail; "People are nice in Northeastern Pennsylvania," he said. He added he had more than one person thank him for sticking his neck out and running, and that, "I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when I hear things like that."

Skibber said that the campaign has been "exhausting, but it's rewarding, [and] somewhat frustrating." She said she encountered fatigue from potential voters who were tired of seeing anyone knocking at their door.

"There's a lot of really passionate people, and a lot of people have opened my eyes to things you don't think of," she said.

In Damascus, Sean, who was watching the polls for the Republicans, said he was concerned about people moving up from NYC and voting for policies that would make Damascus more similar to the Bronx.. Sean, who moved up from the Bronx himself, said he likes the way things are up here. 

"It's the definition of insanity, to keep voting the same way and expecting a different outcome," he said. 

Sean and other Republican volunteers offered flyers listing the Republican candidates on the ballot to prospective voters, asking, "Do you need any help voting up and down the ticket?"

Asti Hustvedt and Jon Kessler woreHarris Walz hats with camo patterning at the Damascus polls. They acknowledged that Democrats are a minority in Wayne County, and said that 40% of the vote going blue would be a success on their end. 

Being a Democratic poll worker in Galilee is like being a nerd in high school, said Kessler. 

Down in Milford, Democratic supporters organized by Delaware Valley Action made phone calls to likely voters. 

"We're getting out the vote," said one volunteer, Hugh, who came from New Jersey to volunteer in Pennsylvania because of its swing state status. 

Hugh said that personally, he considered this an important election for the danger of imposing an "authoritarian, fascist government."

Republican volunteers stood just blocks away waving flags in Trump's support. 

"Once you start, everyone joins," said Heather Scott. They had just gotten there, but were already hearing supportive honks from passing cars, she said.

Editor's note: This article has been updated as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5 with information from Cartwright and Skibber as well as gramatical corrections.