Voters complained about election hanky-panky in Pittsburgh's City Council District 6, and a judge ordered a halt to the electioneering.

Complaints began streaming in to Allegheny County Court this morning about supporters of the write-in campaign of City Councilwoman Tonya Payne.

She lost to Democrat Robert Lavelle in the primary election in her bid for another term to represent the Hill District, Downtown and the North Side.

"The opposition is complaining that the write-in candidate has people in the polls helping voters fill in write-in ballots," said attorney John Bacharach, an assistant Allegheny County solicitor.

He said some complained that voters have attempted to cast ballots for friends.

Judge Edward Borkowski issued a cease and desist order.

Elsewhere, voting appeared to be light this morning.

There are contests for statewide appeals court judges, led by the Supreme Court race between Republican Joan Orie Melvin and Democrat Jack Panella. But no high-profile contests such as for president or U.S. Senate are on the ballot.

Pittsburgh residents are choosing a mayor from among incumbent Democrat Luke Ravenstahl, who also appears on the Republican ballot after winning a write-in contest in the spring, and independents Franco Dok Harris and Kevin Acklin.

Voting in at least one Beechview precinct was steady this morning; Mr. Acklin has concentrated his attention on Beechview, Brookline and some other neighborhoods where he believes Mr. Ravenstahl is vulnerable.

Just one example of light turnout among many reported today was in North Huntingdon's District 3, Precinct 2. By 2:30 p.m., only 293 of 2,042 eligible voters had cast ballots according to Robin Minkel, judge of elections for the precinct.

Even anticipating the customary after-work surge, Mr. Minkel said it was likely that turnout would be substantially below last November's general election, when he said the voting place had recorded ballots for 300 voters in its first hour of operation.

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