Spirits are high in Bellevue and Wilkinsburg, where voters today are deciding whether their communities should allow liquor sales.

If exit interviews with voters are any indication, it may end up 50-50.

"I just think it's time to change an 82-year-old law that should have gone out with Prohibition," said Joe Kachmar, 61, of Bellevue, after he voted this afternoon.

"I think it's going to pass," he continued. "I think people want to try something new because the old ways aren't working."

Lifelong Bellevue resident Jim Brose, 66, agreed.

"Basically, you need a nice restaurant in Bellevue, and they aren't going to come without a liquor license," he said.

Aaron Stubna, 43, of Kennedy, who in 2008 started the movement to allow alcohol sales in Bellevue, said the move is needed to create a viable business district.

"I know what we have is good, but it could be better," said the owner of the community’s Lincoln Barber Shop.

If it does not pass in this election, Mr. Stubna will have to wait four years to propose it again.

"If this doesn't pass this time, Bellevue doesn't have another four years," Mr. Stubna said.

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Not so fast, said 37-year-old Bellevue resident Mary A. St. Vincent. She is in favor of the status quo -- dry.

"I voted a resounding 'No,'" she said. "It's going to bring more trouble to this borough than it's worth. It's a lovely place, but [if the referendum passes] it's going to change, and in my opinion, not for the better."

Joan Manges of Bellevue also voted against the referendum.

"We've been 100 years with Prohibition. I just don't think we need any bars in Bellevue," she said.

Linda Haverstich, 61, of Bellevue, agreed.

"I don't think the borough council will be able to control the liquor licenses that are coming in like they think they will," she said.

In Wilkinsburg, Steven Wright, 41, of Wilkinsburg said he voted no.

"There's already enough liquor-related issues in the area," said Mr. Wright.

Although he said it could create a much-needed chance for revenue, he added that not all money is good money.

"We need to press for other types of businesses," he said.

Will Scott, 63, echoed his sentiments.

"There's problems in the neighborhood, some are alcohol-related," he said. "This could make it worse."

Jeffrey Wood, 52, said if the referendum were to pass, it could bring some economic benefits through additional businesses and restaurants.

"It would be good," Mr. Wood said. "Things could start to improve."

While there is a contentious issue bringing out voters in Bellevue and Wilkinsburg, many polling places in Allegheny County are reporting a light turnout so far this primary election day.

Voters are choosing nominees for judicial, municipal and school board elections across the state. In both Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, there are hot races for controller.

In Washington County, there was a tense moment at a polling place in Cecil.

Cecil police investigated a report of a dispute that became physical between a candidate and the husband of one of his opponents.

Former state Rep. Jesse White, who is running for district judge, wrote on his Facebook page, “I'm standing at the Cecil Fire Department talking to voters, and Todd Kemp, Traci McDonald-Kemp's husband, came charging at me, pushed me and threatened me. When I told him to back away, he refused, and he and another man in one of Traci's shirts refused to get out of my face, saying they were going to be with me all day.”

Ms. McDonald-Kemp, who also is running for judge, was not at the polling place at the time but disputes that any physical altercation occurred.

She said her husband approached Mr. White regarding a flier that was passed around the community. Then, Ms. McDonald-Kemp said, “Jesse said ‘You pushed me, you hit me.’”

“Everyone I talked to said [my] husband didn’t do anything,” Ms. McDonald-Kemp said.

Mr. White, however, wrote that witnesses at the polling place were supporters of Ms. McDonald-Kemp and did not tell the truth to investigators.

No arrests were made.

Cecil police and Mr. Kemp were not immediately available for comment. Mr. White could not be reached for further comment.

Spot checks of polling places indicated that voter participation may be even lighter than the 25 percent turnout predicted by Allegheny County elections manager Mark Wolosik.

By about 10:15 a.m., 15 Democrats and three Republicans had voted at the EMS Training Center at 22nd Street and Liberty Avenue in the Strip District. Judge of elections Soundra Bailey described the turnout as very slow but said traffic usually picks up at the end of the work day.

Voting was slow around lunchtime at Ben Avon's 2nd District polling place. Poll workers usually find a line of people waiting to vote when they arrive, majority inspector Jane France said.

"Today there was one," she said. "Maybe it will pick up after work."

A threat of rain this morning may have kept voters from the polls.

Seven people had voted at the senior citizens residence at Grandview Avenue and Odair Street in McKeesport 25 minutes after the polls opened at 7 a.m.

An election worker said that seemed light, noting that she hadn't yet seen some citizens who traditionally vote soon after the polls open.

At the Middle Road Volunteer Fire Department, election workers and campaign volunteers equaled the number of people who had voted by 7:45 a.m.: six Democrats and four Republicans.

Mr. Wolosik reported no major issues at the more than 1,300 voting precincts across Allegheny County.

He said a few polling places opened somewhat late, and some voters were forced to use emergency paper ballots in three polling places.

The weather is expected to stay rain-free with a high of 74 today with partly-to-mostly cloudy skies, said John Darnley of the National Weather Service in Moon. A cold front will be moving in from Lake Erie and pushing into Pennsylvania, but Mr. Darnley said temperatures are not expected to drop off significantly by evening hours -- it should be around 68 degrees.

The polls are open until 8 p.m.

Staff writers Andrew Goldstein, Liz Bloom, Len Barcousky, Ivy Kuhrman and Megan Henney contributed to this report.

First Published: May 19, 2015, 1:32 p.m.
Updated: May 19, 2015, 6:31 p.m.