Share Your Voting Experiences Today
BOSTON — We want to hear from you. Did you encounter a problem at your precinct? How long was the line? Leave a comment below or follow WBUR on Twitter and tag voting problems with #wburvote.
Long lines formed early at the Phineas Bates School in Roslindale today. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)
BOSTON — Massachusetts voters turned out in droves this morning, forming lines at polling places across the state for their chance to cast a ballot in a historic election.
Richard Smith, a 76-year-old truck mechanic from Topsfield, said the race race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama felt more intense than previous elections.
The veteran voted for McCain because he’s a “war hero.”
T.J. Hellmann called this Election Day “extra special” not just because of the presidential election but also because of the ballot questions. The 31-year-old Chelsea resident voted for Obama.
Forty-three-year-old Christine Klaehn says she voted for Obama in her Jamaica Plain district because the past eight years under a Republican administration have been “horrific.”
Secretary of State William Galvin is predicting a record turnout, with about 71 percent of eligible voters expected to vote.
Polls close at 8 p.m E.T.
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"Philosophical and Intellectual Biography" : Boston University Institute for Philosophy & Religion Focal Conference
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At The Discovery Museums
I was searching through this site and I came across this, sharing voting experience, It took barely 10 minutes… the volunteers provided much assistance… It was like moving in and out.
(Written on Tuesday night)
Monday evening I stopped by the election office to volunteer as a poll worker for Tuesday afternoon, and today I was privileged to help over 500 people cast their ballots. The work was mundane, and repetitive, and uplifting, and I couldn’t stop smiling while I was doing it.
I was relieved to learn more about how the elections in my town work, how the votes are counted and how the voter rolls work. I checked people off on the voter rolls and handed out ballots, explained how the ballot scanner works and reassured people that their votes were being counted, and helped voters get replacement ballots to fill out when their first ballot was rejected by the scanner due to overvotes or stray marks. Half a dozen times or more, a voter came back to the scanner with their replacement ballot, and every time the replacement ballot was perfect. I saw parents explaining the voting process to their children, and families and friends coming to the polls together, and neighbors catching up, and people returning to the polls to accompany other family members long after they had voted themselves. I saw people who were voting for the first time as an adult, or for the first time as an American citizen, or for the first time for a presidential candidate who inspired them. I saw a woman with portable oxygen, and some people who could barely walk, and some in wheelchairs, and some who could barely see, or hear, or speak. And I played my small part in helping them all vote, and I truly could not stop smiling.
I was unsure about this choice ahead of time. I had strong feelings about parts of this election, and being a poll worker meant I couldn’t hold a sign or distribute information outside the polling place. I had to put my own opinions aside in favor of helping the voting process run smoothly for all voters. In the end it was easy to do because I believe we need a democracy as much as anything.
I got to the polls yesterday around 7:30pm and waited about 20 to 25 minutes. At 8:01pm there still was a long line waiting to vote and the polls were sending them home. People did not get to vote and every persons voice needs to be heard. Hopefully this can be resolved for further debates.
I got to the polls yesterday around 7:30 and waited about 20 to 25 minutes. At 8:01 there still was a long line waiting to vote and the polls were sending them home. People did not get to vote and every persons voice needs to be heard. Hopefully this can be resolved for further debates.
I voted in Leominster, MA. I expected long lines since I went to the polls right after work but was pleasantly surprised to be in and out in about 5 minutes. Everything was well organized and the workers there were very helpful. I can’t wait to see the results start rollng in.
Voted at about 8 am in Dennis Village (on the Cape), only 4 people in front of me, no problem getting ’signed in’, polling people were great & all voters very excited. Last night I could’nt get to sleep-it was like Christmas Eve when I was a child!!!! Go Obama!!!!
I want to my polling place in mid-Cambridge at 2:15. No lines. A poll worker demanded that I take off or reverse my Obama sweatshirt and there was a minorly tense exchange when I asked why and he didn’t seem to have a response. Nevertheless, I removed the sweatshirt, tied it around my waist, but flippantly flipped up the “Obama” side toward some of the other poll workers as we walked into the voting booth. They laughed.
I voted at the middle school in Woburn 7AM this morning. There was a bit of a line but it moved quickly. I encountered a small amount of trouble with them finding my name in the books but eventually they did fine me. All told, I was in, and out in less than 15 minutes.
I waited in line for an hour to vote in the North End. There was only one person there to take your name (and two people to hand you the ballot). The lone volunteer with the ledger book was asking some people for two forms of ID, and the woman in front of me almost left when she overheard that because she didn’t have an ID, but when she got to the front of the line she wasn’t asked for any ID, and neither was I. Neither of us could figure it out, but once we got to the front of the line, the actual voting process went very smoothly.
I voted with my son at the Harvey Wheeler Center in Concord MA at 9:15 this morning. It was busier than usual — a short line of 6 or 7 people in front of me where usually I just walk through at that time of day. Other wise no problems. Voting took about 5 minutes after I got my ballot.
I went to vote at the Harvard Design school on Quincy street in Harvard square. My name was not on the list. I have voted there many times, including during the recent primary, and this has never happened before.
I arrived at Fenway High School at 650AM, to what appeared to be approximately 250 people in line ahead of me. Thankfully, a very helpful polling worker guided people to the correct lines for the 2 precincts covered.
See pic: images42.fotki.com/v1311/photos/5/571666/2597259/vote2-vi.jpg
Alas, though once inside, it looked like I was not going ot be able to vote. I had changed my voter registration with my change of address at the RMV in Chinatown in Jan 2008, however the local precinct did not have me on their list. I was reassured though, that they would indeed allow me to vote via Provisional Ballot. However, my vote would not be confirmed for approximately 2 weeks. Having been a registered voter for 18 years now, this is the most melancholy I have felt after casting my ballot.
Ballot: images45.fotki.com/v1361/photos/5/571666/2597259/vote1-vi.jpg
On the otherhand, I dug up a rermixed dance track that i edited in 2004 that has kept my inspiration high today, and hopes alive, and hope that I can share it here with you:
youtube.com/watch?v=2tadzppe96s
Broadcasted reports of citizens standing on line to cast their vote for “two, three, four and even five hours…” was almost enough to discourage me from heading to the polls altogether. When I reflected on our state of affairs; and those fellow Americans who have died or endured suffering at home or abroad, I concluded the least I could do is stand on line to have my voice heard no matter how long. Imagine my relief when I found no line at my local polling center. I can only hope others won’t be as discouraged as I nearly was; and that those who write and report the news do not discourage their audiences from voting by emphasizing extreme instances at some polls as the norm.
I arrived at Fenway High School at 650AM, to what appeared to be approximately 250 people in line ahead of me. Thankfully, a very helpful polling worker guided people to the correct lines for the 2 precincts covered.
See pic: http://images42.fotki.com/v1311/photos/5/571666/2597259/vote2-vi.jpg
Alas, though once inside, it looked like I was not going ot be able to vote. I had changed my voter registration with my change of address at the RMV in Chinatown in Jan 2008, however the local precinct did not have me on their list. I was reassured though, that they would indeed allow me to vote via Provisional Ballot. However, my vote would not be confirmed for approximately 2 weeks. Having been a registered voter for 18 years now, this is the most melancholy I have felt after casting my ballot.
Ballot: http://images45.fotki.com/v1361/photos/5/571666/2597259/vote1-vi.jpg
On the otherhand, I dug up a rermixed dance track that i edited in 2004 that has kept my inspiration high today, and hopes alive, and hope that I can share it here with you:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2tadzppe96s
My name and my husband’s name were left off the list at Ward 8 Precinct 2 in Cambridge today. We saw the same thing happening to our neighbors. We’ve been voting at the same place for years and are hoping for some explanation. Thankfully the volunteers did a great job getting through to the election commission quickly, confirming our residence, and getting us our ballots. But we did see frustrated neighbors leaving and not waiting for the validation process. We went to the polls with so much excitement and this left me feeling disappointed in the process.
I am from Boston and am currently a graduate student in Toronto. After applying for an absentee ballot and not receiving it, I made several calls to the elections department to find out why and finally found out that for some reason I had been dropped from the voter rolls. I eventually did receive my absentee ballot and mailed it back via Canada Post (Canada’s postal service), only to have it returned to me the next day without explanation. I filled in the actual street address for the Boston elections department (absentee envelopes come printed only with the city, state and zip) and mailed it, again, last Monday (Oct. 27). Yesterday morning I thought to myself that my ballot must have gone through since it hadn’t come back to me. Literally moments after this thought crossed my mind, my absentee ballot fell through my mail slot with the rest of the day’s mail. Again, there was no explanation for this, i.e. insufficient postage, wrong address, etc. So, my vote will go uncounted.
It seems as though I’m not the only student in Canada who is having troubles either. I read a story on the Globe’s site this morning about American students in Montreal who never even received their absentee ballots and were trying to find rides down to the Boston area so they could vote at the polls.
Ward 3 precinct 3 at the Salvation Army in Central Sq, Cambridge–no line, no problems when my husband voted at 9 am & just as easy when I went at 1 pm. Guess we missed the Cambridge problems reported earlier.
Seeing the voter lists with so many names checked off that they’d been in to vote was wonderful! Looked like every single person on my block had already been in.
One of my coworkers was purged in 2006 from the roles in Medford, and her registration form for her new address in Chelmsford was not accepted. They refused her even a provisional ballot.
I’m on my way to vote now, and hopefully it will go well.
Here’s one for you:
I was properly registered in Ward 20/Precinct 9. My name was on the list, I should have been able to vote no problem, right? Wrong.
My wife (same last name, also a first name beginning with D) went to vote earlier this morning, got in and out no problem. The problem? She wasn’t on the voter rolls and when she voted they checked off my name. When I went to vote, I had to vote provisional, even though I was on the rolls because there are no ID requirements in MA and the poll workers couldn’t distinguish between Deirdre and Demetria.
I went to the Mary Curley school in Jamaica Plain this morning at around 7:30. There was a tremedous line; maybe three city blocks long. However, since in the 2000 election I stood in that line only to be told that I was in a different ward and needed to go to another place in the building, I felt I had beat the wait. I walked to the second location, only to be told that that area was not open this election. I was told they sent a letter to my home to this effect, but I either did not get it or did not notice it.
So back to the original line, 5 minutes and a number of people later. The feeling in line was upbeat despite the line and it seemed to be moving relatively well. As I was about 30 people from the door, a man came around asking for our ward number. I am in 10 / 9 so he wasn’t interested in me. He was pulling out people from 19 / 3 and 19 /1. When I entered the room with another 10-15 minute wait, I saw that there were three table for the three wards. The tables for 19 /3 and 19/1 were clear with one person at a time at the table and no waiting.
A few of asked the staff, who were very friendly, why the discrepancy between wards but they didn’t seem to have an answer. One man said was that the move of ward 10/9 was last minute. One volunteer went up to a man in a suit to register the complaint. She pointed around to us, to the line, to the table, to us. He looked around at us, at the line, at the table, at us. Then he said something to her and sat back down.
So a bizarrely long wait. Maybe they need to reshuffle the wards. In general the mood was very pleasant. Maybe we are all glad its finally over.
I voted in Ward #5 in Newburyport at about 9:15 this morning. No line, no problem, but not without incident. As I approached the front door of the building, a man looked at me and (apparently in response to my Obama button) stuck his arms straight out in front to imitate a robot walk and droned “Obama — Socialism!” Later, as I stood by the roadside, holding a sign with other Obama supporters, a passing driver gave us the finger, and a few minutes later, another driver shouted out to us, “Obama bin Laden!!” Our group of 5 sign-holders noticed that, in marked contrast to past years, this year there were no Republican signholders on the opposite corner, nor anywhere to be seen, in fact. We were very surprised when, at about 11 am, the custodian of the building (a public school) came out to us and told us to move our signs — that we were not permitted to lean them against the split-rail fence which is school property — that the signs were only permitted there if a person were holding each one. I have lived in this town for 18 years and have never known there to be an election when there were NOT signs leaning agains those fences all day long on election day. Compared with my experience in past years, I would say that this year’s motorists are much more expressive — by a factor of about 20. More than half seem to be expressing their sentiments with thumbs up or thumbs down, honking or waving. Emotions are high.
No problems in Lexington, Estabrook School: 15 booths for voting, 7 active. In & Out in 5 minute
I have been registered to vote in Cambridge from the same address since 2005 yet was not on today’s list and had to file a provisional ballot after waiting more than one hour. If I were in a state where the Presidential outcome were in dispute, I would be even more outraged than I already am. It seems to me that getting the voter rolls straight is public employee job #1 yet, at least in Cambridge, where parking tickets and other penalties are administered with Swiss-like efficiency, it sadly is not.
I voted at the Archive Building in Waltham. Registration, voting and the exit process were all jammed into one tiny room creating a significant amount of confusion and anger. Certain people were being pulled to the front of the line if there were on streets between Be and Ch – that also made people who had been standing in line angry. Additionally anyone standing around waiting to cast a ballot or exiting could see into the voting stations. It seems they could have been a lot more organized.
Voted at Precinct 7 in Lexington, MA. No line at all, but lots of folks coming in and going out. Make it easy and people will vote!
I voted in the South End at the Cathedral HS. There were 4 lines: one was around the block. No one looked impatient. Mine was the shortest; took is about 10 minutes
I love voting.
I voted in Cambridge at 7:30AM and waited for one hour before I could vote, then my name was not on the list even though I voted in the Democratic primary, so I was given a provisional ballot. Anyhow, Go Barack!
I voted in Natick around 11am and there was only one person ahead of me!
I voted in Watertown at about 10 am this morning. The wait was approximately 10 minutes and I bought a nice loaf of banana bread. Very pleasant experience.
Asking for ID verification at Orchard Gardens School,Roxbury – 02119
I’m a teacher at the Academy of Public Service. One of my students told me just now that when her mother went to vote there in the past, they were requiring that all people show ID (like a license) before they were allowed to vote. Initially, I thought it was today.
Beethoven School – West Roxbury.
Got in line with my son at 6:45. We were done by 7:15.
Problem in Plymouth: Found out that I was listed as “Inactive” when I arrived at the polls. Huh?!? “You must not have voted recently.” they said. Nope. I voted right here in this same gym in the spring primary (D) and in the last 2 elections. “You must not have returned your census form.” Wrong again. My husband had to go away on business, so he voted early at the town hall on Friday. He didn’t have a problem, and the last time I checked, we lived in the same household.
I was also firmly told to remove my little lapel button that says “Vote 08 Hope”. I didn’t know that something like that was not allowed. I can only imagine that my 18 year old daughter in Minnesota voting for the first time probably wore a VOTE OBAMA T-shirt to the polling station! I guess I had better call to warn her. Am I the only one who didn’t know an individual voter is not allowed to show your support? I don’t work for any campaign – I’m just excited about voting this time around.
After signing a form, showing ID, and answering questions about my residency, I finally got my ballot. But not without putting some effort into it.
Lucky I speak English and was determined NOT to be turned away!
(By the way, no one was handling out “I voted stickers” at our polling station – but I still got my free Starbucks Coffee at the Exit 5 location. Thanks, guys! I feel I earned it.)
So the People’s Republic is denying “the people” their right to vote. Just like Florida, no?
I went to my polling station at 8am which serves two precincts in Bourne. The line was long for one precinct because people weren’t sure where to go but it moved quickly. I was at the other table (completely empty) but my name wasn’t on the voting list. I had voted here during the primaries and ended up on the inactive list some how. I was ushered to a back table, filled out an affirmation form and was finally back to receive my ballot. It was only a tedious process because the workers were a little unsure as to what they should do but I was able to cast my ballot and everyone was very, very friendly. I didn’t mind at all.
I voted in Jamaica Plain this morning just after 7:00 (although I’d been told on the phone that my polling location didn’t open until 8…). The line was fairly long but it moved quickly. The volunteers at the polls were super-friendly and we were all in good spirits, so the wait was actually fun.
I voted in Watertown, district 11, this morning at 10am. No line – well 6 people in front of me. But when I turned my ballot over to vote on the last two of the three questions – THEY WERE ALREADY FILLED OUT! I turned the ballot into the stunned warden and workers there. We were all pretty shocked at that. I got a new ballot and voted again. Glad I haven’t read that hasn’t happened in more places.
I voted in Somerville this morning at 8:30. No problem whatsoever! I have never in my life felt so committed to voting and happy to vote. I saw some long lines, but everyone was happy to be there!
In Billerica Precinct 7 at 7:15 am, the waiting time was only 15 minutes. I was unhappy that we had to drop our ballots in a slot in the side of the box, rather than feeding them into the motorized front “funnel” as usual. This happened in the primary too, and they’ve had plenty of time to repair the machines. I sure hope my vote will be counted. Massachusetts may be a “safe” state for Obama, but there are other races and important questions on the ballot.
I took a chair/cane and a book this morning at 9:30 to the polling place for Precint 10, Brookline. The line was about an hour. The Brookline Tab was interviewing voters about the experience. There were several people whose names were not on the registration list. The actual voting time was perhaps 5-10 minutes…5 minutes to mark the ballot, 5 minutes to check-out and turn it in. I got my “I voted sticker” and a free Starbucks Coffee–what a great day!
Voted in Brookline – precinct 12 this morning. I got there at 6:40 and was shocked by the number of people already there, there were probably 50 people waiting in front of me. The line ran really smoothly, I was out by 7:25 and only a little late for work. The line was out the door when I left. As the guy in front of me said, it was really impressive to see so many people turn out so early. Oh, and there was a big bake sale going on with bagels, coffee, muffins, raffles, etc. Yay Brookline parents for getting up so early!
At Ward 2 Precinct 2 in Quincy, everything went smoothly… my husband voted before work, had to wait an hour but it was a good experience overall. I waited until 10:15 and had only 15 mins wait. Polls workers very efficient, line moves right along, great experience!
Voted in Brookline precinct 4 this morning – was about 90 minutes long, but everyone seemed to be in high spirits and willing to wait. Many of us expected longer lines, and I heard quite a few “it’s not so bad” comments (including my own!).
I arrived at the National Archives in Waltham just before 7:30 and there was a line but not overly long. The entire process took just over 30 minutes. It was a little disorganized, with very cramped space and one rather cranky volunteer. But overall easy in and out. (By the way, it’s a beautiful building and a wonderful research facility)
Went to vote in Shrewsbury at about 9:30, there was a steady flow of people, but no wait time. The election officials were very efficient and professional.
I was one of the many in Cambridge whose name was not on the voting lists despite the fact that I voted in the primary election, have not moved, etc. My husband had no problem. At 6:55 am we arrived at the Cambridge Armory eager to vote in this historic and important election and by 7:30 am my spirits were down. Our 7 year old African-American daughter watched her proud mommy turned away from the check-in line! Eventually, in the midst of significant confusion, I was able to cast a provisional ballot. Will it ever actually be counted?
The right of registered voters to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. Whether due to malice or incompetence, this is unacceptable!
No trouble in Dorchester today. I was in and out in 10 minutes – easy! Don’t let the stories scare you away from voting.
I went to vote this am and the lines weren’t too bad, however, when I got there it appeared someone had voted for me via absentee ballot?!? And it appeared that half of my neighborhood was down for absentee ballot – strange!
The warden was great! Because this was the first time the folks had experienced this kind of problem – they were initially confused, they handled the situation well and resolved the issue allowing me to have MY vote!!
I waited about 45 minutes to vote in a polling place where I am usually alone when I go to vote. Everyone was very excited and the most pertinent comment I heard while exiting was “everyone is leaving with a smile on their face”! I’m going to assume this is good news for Obama.
I voted this morning in Brookline at the High School. The wait was about an hour and 15 minutes — very exciting to see so many people in line, especially so many kids voting for the first time! Everything went smoothly. The volunteers did a great job as usual.
I voted in Wellesley this morning. The voting went smoothly except for one thing–it was very difficult to park to get to the polling station.
Our precinct votes in the Wellesley high school. It was very difficult to find parking at the high school, because the lot was filled with cars of the high school teachers and students.
No additional parking was created to facilitate voting. I had to call the Wellesley Police Department to ask them to temporarily suspend parking restrictions near the high school. I don’t know if they did anything about it.
Hooray for Gov. Patrick’s recent law! My husband and I went early to vote this morning and, although we had called around a month ago to make sure our registration was in order, we were listed as “Inactive.” Thankfully, though we had moved recently, we were able to show our licenses and vote under our original registration at a different location in Cambridge. The pollsters were very busy but VERY nice, eager, and willing to help.
I got in line at 7am at my polling station in the North End at the Christopher Columbus Park apartments. 90 mintues later I got checked in and received my ballot–there was only ONE person checking in all of the people voting. It was ridiculous.
It took about 30 minutes for me to get the front of the line in Cambridge this morning, but like others I found my name missing from the voter list. I have been registered at the same address for NINE YEARS, so the report on WBUR that this is due to a four-year old voter list doesn’t wash. Inexplicably, my wife was on the list. Fortunately I was able to vote after the polling place called to verify that I am indeed registered (kudos to the poll workers on site, who were doing their best). There were about a dozen other people in my position this morning, and at least 2-3 of those got fed up with the wait (an additional 20-30 minutes) and left without voting. Someone in the elections office really screwed up and heads should roll! This is inexcusable!
I voted around 10am at the Haggerty School in Cambridge. Everything was smooth. No one appeared to be turned away. There was no wait. Staff were helpful and friendly. A Cambridge policeman supervised the ballot box.
I voted in Somerville this morning. I arrived at 7:04, and the line was already 75 people long. It took about 40 minutes. The real bottleneck was the time it takes the person to find your name in the list of registered voters.
Never before in the 12 years as a resident and voter in Groveland MA have I had to wait in a line longer that 10 people or so and that was only once. After that I started voting in the morning when the polls first open and never waited at all. This morning at 7:10 AM the line went around town hall inside one and a half times and then out the door where they wouldn’t let you in until the end of the line passed leaving you with once around the building. The wait was only about 30 minutes once inside but incredible for a town of only about 6000.
Very quickly. Exeter, NH polls opened at 7am. I was in line, with friends, at 6:30. Once polls opened, we were in and out in about 10 minutes. Past elections in Exeter have also been quite efficient, and today was no exception. This efficiency made the entire process exciting and worry-free. We even had time to get breakfast before heading off to work. Kudos to the organizers. Polls close at 8pm.
I just voted in Somerville Massachusetts, part of metro Boston. I walked into my polling place, did not wait in line, filled out a paper ballot and walked out within ten minutes.
Why is it that a city in a basically one party (Democratic) state can make it easy and I assume reliable to vote while there are democracy-damaging impediments to voting all over the country?
I voted in Cambridge this morning. (Same polling station where I’ve voted for the last 9 years.) My name wasn’t on the list and the people at the station couldn’t get through on the phone to the election commission. Half of the people going through with me were in the same position. Some were sent home to find the cards that were mailed to them (ya right) and others like me who persisted had our licenses looked at and had our names written down on scraps of paper, then we were given ballots.
A royal screw-up either by the secretary of state’s office or the election commission, but I have trouble believing it’s a conspiracy!
There was a no more than a 5 minute wait at the Cambridge ward 1 precinct 3 polling station this morning around 8 am. I registered to vote this September and my name was on the roll. Don’t forget to thank your poll workers.
I had a great time voting! It was easy it was fast. Please don’t’ scare people away from voting by talking about long lines and irregularities! I know they will happen in some places but don’t forget to talk about how successful most voters and voting places are and how excited we are about the great turnout!
I just got done voting in Brookline’s 3rd precinct–about an hour and 40 minute wait from start to finish. Very well run, though, and the spirits in the crowd seemed to be high–I only saw one person hop out of line because of a prior engagement.
I voted this moring in Malden around 7:30 am. The total time took about 25 minutes- all in all not too bad. The staff was very friendly. The problem wasleaving the polling station. My typical 20 minute commute to work took about 60 minutes because I had to drive past 4 different polling stations in Medford and Somerville which were all congested and backing up traffic.
Happy election day! I voted in Boston, ward 4 precinct 10 and there was no line at 10 to 8 this morning. So it was a quick smooth voting experience.
I voted this morning in Cambridge, where the line was probably 30 minutes long, and as other people have mentioned already, my name was not on the list even though I voted in the primary and just received my postcard. Several other people near me in line had the same problem, but luckily I was able to get a regular ballot rather than a provisional ballot. Election officials did seem unprepared for the number of problems they were encountering.
I voted in Revere at 7:40 am the polls were busier than usual, but there was no wait. I also was not on the list. But was able to vote after showing my identification and signing a form. It seems that I skipped a census form.
I went to my polling station at 7:09 AM in Waltham which normally has 0 wait, and found probably 50-60 people ahead of me. It took about 35 minutes to get through the line. One person who was a couple of people in front of me found that they were not on the rolls. Another person was allowed to turn in their ballot without being asked if he had checked out (where they ask you your address a 2nd time). I immediately reported it and they ran outside and called him back to check out. After that I noticed the woman taking the ballots asking people whether they had checked out.
I voted in Woburn (Precinct 6-1)at around 7:30am.
The line moved really quickly and the staff was very helpful in getting people their ballots. There were probably about 50 people in there but I was in and out in less that 20 mins.
By 7:30 this morning the voting machine was broken at old bowdoin st in Dorchester! Incredible.
We went to vote at the Harvard Design school on Quincy street in Harvard square. There were no lines and no one there. It took less than 5 minutes. Anyone who can head to this polling place should!
Ballot scanning machine malfunctioned in Belmont Precinct 1 at around 9:10 AM. Voting line was not long, but others said it was very long earlier in the morning.
I was also turned away at a polling place in Cambridge after waiting 30 minutes. I also saw 20-30 others in the same situation. i was there with my wife and son, my wife was let in but not me. Very weird since I voted there in the primary. I chose not to to cast a provisional ballot and I will go back in the afternoon to see if they fixed the problem. Here’s a not great photo of the line at my polling place.
Little story …
I live in Dracut, MA, and my mom lives in Ohio. My mom decided to come and visit me in MA on November 2, which meant she would be away from home on election day.
No problem — I got an absentee ballot application for her online, and I mailed that to her about a month ago.
Unfortunately, she found the absentee ballot application process too complicated. Because early voting was available to her, she threw away the application, and voted early instead — in person, in Ohio. That was easy!
Only one problem — when I got to the polls in Dracut this morning, there was an “AV” notation beside my name, indicating that I had already voted via absentee ballot. This was not true, of course.
A poll worker made a quick phone call to verify whether or not I had actually voted by absentee ballot. Apparently, they told her that I had not voted, because she came back and made a new note in red pencil on the voter rolls, indicating that I would vote in person. So they let me go ahead and vote.
Since my name had mysteriously disappeared from the rolls altogether in the last presidential election (2004), I’m still a little gun-shy — and nervous about my vote being counted … I’m hoping and trusting it will.
At precinct 9 in Brookline, the line was quite long at 6:45 am. It took me about 30 minutes to get into vote..but all was moving smoothly.
I stood in line for 45 minutes at 7:00 AM to vote at the same precinct I have voted for the last 30 years. Although my name was carried on the list of registered voters posted outside the polling place, it was not on the list that they had inside the poll.
I was informed that I would hvve to vote provisionally.
After doing so, I learned that the lists are ’screwed up’ all over Cambridge and that new lists are being distrbuted.
Additionally, although not required per disucssion with Secretary Galvins’s office, I was required to place my signature on the back of the now not very secret ballot.
Needless to say, my experience of this most important election has been diminished.
Cambaridge election commission: Sname on you!
Hingham. Traffic moving smoothly into and out of parking lot, no line to vote. Very smooth process.
It took about a half hour in Ashland (and I got there at 7am). Didn’t see anyone being turned away. People seemed excited…
I voted first this morning in Somerville. The line stretched down the street when I got there five minutes before the polls opened, but I was in and out in less than 50 minutes.
in Somerville I was in line this morning at 6:50AM. There were already 100+ people in line.
The election volunteers were proactively working the line with a clip-board and list and asking if anyone had any concerns about their registration status. They had resolved two issues of people not being on the list before the doors even opened. The entire process from being 10 minutes early to exiting took about 30 minutes.
I got to the polls in Framingham at 6:55 this morning and thought I was OK because there were only about 30-40 people in front of me. Then I realized that there were at least 100-150 more inside already! However when the polls opened the line moved really fast and I was out in about 30 minutes. Everything went smoothly and people seemed excited to be there!
My husband and I went right at 7 a.m. to vote in Cambridge, and inexplicably, my name was suddenly not on the list!! And I was not alone – I would estimate that at least 10% of the other people who were there at the same time as me gave their name and address and also found that they were not listed. My husband and I both received our postcards about two weeks ago reminding us of where our voting station was, AND we both voted during the recent local election for the State Representative seat. So I have no idea why I (and all the others) were excluded today. This is a HUGE voting irregularity, and I’m concerned that it’s not confined only to my ward and/or precinct. I WAS finally able to cast my vote (and it was the regular ballot, not a Provisional ballot, which I would’ve rejected and protested loudly.) But I wonder how many other people would just become frustrated and walk out without voting at all.
I waited an hour this morning in Cambridge. People were being turned away. Though they were on the list posted outside the polling place. Between 7-8 am about 30 people were not able to vote.
I saw at least 2 people told their names were not on the registration list at a polling place in Cambridge this morning.
WBUR reporters are seeing long lines in Brookline and Cambridge. And WBUR is learning of voters getting turned away in Cambridge. Is this true for anyone?
I went to vote in Waltham just after the polls opened this morning. There was a short line. I was in and out in 20 minutes. The volunteers were very efficient and helpful.