Nonpartisan poll watchers will be posted throughout the First District today as Democratic voters choose among three candidates in the highly contentious race to replace State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo.

Justice Department officials also are on standby for possible trouble in the district, where passions have historically run high and could be exacerbated this year because of the longtime feud between Fumo and would-be successor John J. Dougherty.

And even though Fumo dropped out of the race because of his impending trial on federal corruption charges, he has remained a presence on the campaign trail.