Get out there and vote. Then come back here and tell us what it was like at your polling place.
The city will publish the unofficial election results here.
Super Tuesday open thread: Polls open until 8 pm
by village14 | Mar 3, 2020 | Newton | 32 comments
Why weren’t they giving the referendum ballot to all voters automatically in Waban?
6/3 (Newton Highlands village) was very busy at 7:15 am. Poll workers did a great job of explaining the two ballots while we waited in line. Although voters were allowed to choose one or the other, the default seemed to be to vote in both elections.
Question: Why do they have us check out? For me, the check-out line was as long as that to get my ballot. I’ve been voting a long time, and can’t recall that I’ve had to check both in and out anywhere else.
1/3, at Bigelow. Decent line at 8am, but not out the door.
My ballots were 218 & 219, which is going to make counts slightly difficult if not everyone takes both ballots.
Doug, that seems like a weird way of numbering the ballots. Why doesn’t each election, national and local, have its own numbering system.
They both went into the counter, so outside of supplying separate boxes for each precinct I’m not sure what else they would do.
From the rolls, they will get an accurate turnout count, of course. I just couldn’t do it from the boxes (but suffice to say I was at least the 110th 1/3 voter at 8am
From City Clerk David Olson:
I understand that poll workers have also been instructed to regularly clean the markers used to mark the ballots.
Secretary of State William Galvin has said voters can also bring their own pens — as long as the ink is not red — to cast their ballots.
Pretty busy at 7AM in Waban Square.
Ward 5, Precinct 4 (Waban). I was Number 506 or 508 (sorry, I forget which) at 9:30am. Busy, but not crazy. I got the last parking spot in the lot (There were none nearby on the street).
Wehn I voted in Upper Falls this morning (5-1) the election warden was saying that typically when they open up on an election day there are a couple of people waiting. This morning in Upper Falls there were 17 people lined up at the door.
Sounds like a very motivated contingent of Upper Falls No voters this morning.
My wife voted a bit earlier than I did. When she came back she said it looked like they had cancelled the presidential primary in Upper Falls today. There was someone holding a YES sign and a NO sign but no signs for any presidential candidates.
Only one presidential sign holder (Warren) at the a Highlands this morning.
Ghost town at 3-4 just now. No signs at all, 2 other voters. However, I saw plenty of checked-off names in the book as they searched for my street. I neglected to note the ballot count as I left.
@John White: Checking out has always been part of the process. Part of the validation system.
Voted at 12:15, 2/1, Albemarle Field House with a nice coat of paint. One police officer on detail, one sign holder for yes, no other sign holders. Number 825
I had ballots 329 and 330 at Precinct 7 Ward 2 (Bigelow Middle School) at about 9:00 am. I saw 2 “Yes” sign holders, 1 “No” sign holder, and a Kennedy campaign worker collecting signatures. Otherwise, the crowd seemed typical (at least to me) for 9:00 am in a non-presidential election.
Oops, I meant Ward 7 Precinct 2…
Weather is perfect! Held YES signs outside the Hyde Center this morning between 8-9am (ward 5 and 6) voters were slow and steady- lots of thumbs up on YES- I am thinking we might see a 60/40 yes win split, (based on one hour of very informal exit polling at Hyde.) ;0)
6/3 at Hyde about 12:30 PM. No lines but voters present. YES and NO advocates outside holding placards. No Presidential signs. I was asked, “Would you like both ballots?”
Ward 2 precinct 4, ballots 1317-18. Not busy but they anticipate a lot of voters this evening.
If you need to find a little relaxation on this Super Tuesday, check out this very calming video. It captures the various animals that use a log to cross a creek in Pennsylvania. This is a follow-up to a similar one that was making the rounds last year. Definitely worth taking a peek. Here’s the URL, though you may need to cut and paste.
https://twistedsifter.com/videos/animals-crossing-log-compilation/
Ballots 1387 and 1388 at Countryside 8/3. When I was handed the city ballot without being asked, I remarked that I was surprised he didn’t ask. Was told that people were there to vote so they should get both ballots.
Not sure what my ballot numbers were (forgot to look), but I was just a few after Greg. :) As always, I found the Hyde Center a very pleasant place to vote.
Only signs outside were for the ballot initiative plus there were two people collecting signatures for Kennedy and Auchincloss. Does anyone know why those primaries aren’t held at the same time as the presidential primary?
At 3/2 (Peirce Elementary) at around 5:30, my ballots were 1559 and 1560. The poll volunteer said “most people, about 90 percent” took the second ballot.
I was 1569 and 1570 at 3/4 (Franklin Elementary). Still a steady stream when I voted at 6:25.
About the same number as Ted’s at 6:45 at 5/1
1590 and 1591 @ 7:30pm at 4/4 (I guess that means ~800 voters).
Dark & rainy outside but lots of folks chatting inside, seemed like they were waiting for a count.
1780 ballots went through at 7:38pm at Upper Falls. Exciting now. When they run the roll, they will get the tally for municipal ballots and primary ballots.
I voted at 7:20 (personal latest ever!) and was ballot 1,500 and some.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the count that high before…
@Anne Alverado, that’s because you have to divide by two approximately. Presidential Primary ballot and then local municipal ballot.
I know, but as someone whose usually in before 8am (@4-1) I’m used to seeing numbers in the 30’s, and it only cracks 100 if I’m running late or it’s a busy election. So seeing that 750+ people voted is exciting!
1/4 (Pelligrini): I checked out at #1178 @ 5:00. Three No signholders & 1 Bernie.
Later I drove by Lincoln Eliot and there were 2 No & 1 yes, and 1 Bernie. And two Roe Act people gathering signatures.