After a long, intense political season featuring a sharply contested presidential race and a Senate contest with national implications, voters across Greater Boston braved long lines and cold temperatures to make their voices heard, a strong turnout that appeared to rival the record-breaking 2008 election.
Voters lined up well before the polls opened, showed up in force throughout the day, and were still waiting long after polls were scheduled to close.
Comments
There's little excuse for such long lines early in the day, and with waits over an hour. Those cities simply don't have a sufficient number of polling places. Maybe it's a money issue, or maybe it's a competency issue. In three decades of elections, I've never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes.
Why the wide variation on the number of voters per precinct? At the McKinley School in the South End (where I vote): 8 people in line. At the Franklin Institute, two streets over, lines around the block! What gives?
Lines were NOT long at all. It went seamlessly as it does when a Democrat controls the Secretary of State's office. Bill Galvin is the best. I had NO problem in the a.m. Took about 15 minutes tops. I knew the questions which were only four and surely knew I was voting for a complete Democratic ticket. If the candidate had a D after their name then they get my vote. PLUS, I knew most anyway. My best to the GREAT and absolute BEST CANDIDATE EVER Elizabeth Warren. Mass should NEVER pass this person up if you want representation refreshingly to be about YOU and NOT the oil companies or the anti choice extremists. We WILL be calling you Senator Warren soon. I can hardly wait!!!!
There were definitely problems at my polling place in Boston, and someone in the Elections Department told me that the mandatory "greeters", who were hired staff, did not show up in some places. At my polling place, people left because they did not know which line to join. It was mass confusion. Boston has got to get its act in order. It was shameful and unacceptable.
Thank you to everyone who voted....no matter for whom.