Share Your Voting Experiences Today

By Andrew Phelps
Nov 4, 2008, 8:51 AM
84 Comments

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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Shyno Chacko Pandeya

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.
http://www.wbur.org/ Andrew Phelps

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?
RM

I saw at least 2 people told their names were not on the registration list at a polling place in Cambridge this morning.
LD

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.
Angela Papierski

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.
Carol

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!
Jenn

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.
TM

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.
CAS

It took about a half hour in Ashland (and I got there at 7am). Didn’t see anyone being turned away. People seemed excited…
LH

Hingham. Traffic moving smoothly into and out of parking lot, no line to vote. Very smooth process.
Douglas M. Lange

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!
Kathleen

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.
Gail H. McCarthy

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.
http://benbrophy.com/ Ben Brophy

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.
Jim

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.
Ashley Farmer

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!
evan paster

By 7:30 this morning the voting machine was broken at old bowdoin st in Dorchester! Incredible.
M.V.

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.
Mark

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.
Shayna

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.
Juliana

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.
Carolle

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.
Jessica

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.
Norah

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.
Meredith

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!
Laura

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.
Paul E

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!
http://either-orchestra.org Russ Gershon

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?
Angela

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.
Stan W

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.
Marianne

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.
Anne G

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.
Steve

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!
Ellen

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.
Abby

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.
Maria

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.
AP

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.
http://WBUR Diane Long

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.
DC

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!!
Lisa B

No trouble in Dorchester today. I was in and out in 10 minutes – easy! Don’t let the stories scare you away from voting.
Phyllis

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!
John K

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.
Linda C

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)
Lorita

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!).
Ali

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!
Sarah

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!
Julia

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!
Tony

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.
Christine

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!
Julie

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.