Galvin Predicts Record-Setting, But 'Orderly' End To Election

Massachusetts elections officials are expecting more than a million voters to head to the polls Tuesday, which would eclipse previous turnout records when added to the 2.3 million ballots already cast, Secretary of State William Galvin said.

Galvin on Monday predicted a total turnout of 3.6 million voters, which would top the 2016 high of 3.3 million. There are more than 4.8 million people registered to vote in Massachusetts, and the number of inactive voters has declined, Galvin said.

"We've seen a lot of activity from voters who have not had particularly active histories," Galvin said. "We've seen a tremendous uptick in interest, even in areas of the state where we generally don't see that."

It has primarily been residents of suburban areas who have taken advantage of the early voting and expanded mail-in ballot opportunities this year, Galvin said, noting that participation has not been as high in the state's largest cities. "That means they'll be coming out tomorrow," he said.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and each polling place will have a police officer present. Galvin said political party chairs have been advised that while they may station observers at voting locations, those observers cannot interact with voters. He said Election Day is expected to be a "very orderly day" here.

"We believe that tomorrow we will see, as I said, a large turnout, but we believe it will be an orderly turnout," he said. "We will insist on order. If, in fact, there is any effort to disrupt the polls tomorrow by any means, whether its by drive-by caravans or anything else, we will insist that law enforcement take action immediately to make sure the polls remain accessible."