Election Day reports

Menino's people are INSIDE polling places in the North End, telling people 'to do the right thing'. This is voter intimidation - plain and simple.

menino's people were inside my polling location in rosi...these fucking people...

I'm very disappointed to report that at my polling place -- Cathedral High School in the South End -- no ballots corresponding with my ward and precinct were available. I had to use a ballot corresponding with another ward/ precinct. Although I was assured that my "vote would be counted," demographic data will be rendered inaccurate by this unfortunate error. Is the error being repeated elsewhere in the city?

Also, I was disappointed -- although, alas, not surprised -- to find that I did not have to wait in line to vote.

I voted in the Back Bay this morning. Turnout was low and the poll workers kept the campaign workers in check - keeping them 150 ft. away from the polling entrance.

I am a Menino supporter and think that it would be idiotic for the Mayor's campaign to get involved inside a polling location, as described above. By the responses above, I think a certain campaign is pulling out all the stops, without regard to the integrity of their own candidate, and that's a shame.

had signs for almost every candidate for everything. And there were supporters outside asking if you were voting and then handing out tiny fliers for whatever candidate. All this well within 150 of the entrance to the voting local. No wait, though.

This quote is taken from this morning's Herald article on the election.

“Things seem pretty smooth so far. Voting is brisk. It certainly is not as good as it was in the presidential election,” said MassVOTE Executive Director
Avi Green. “So far this morning we haven’t heard any complaints.”

I think Green would have her thumb on the pulse much more than previous commenters who are likely Yoon or Flaherty supporters. Stop with the lies.

no line or issues in Charlestown this morning a little before 8. First time voting here and they didn't check my ID, shouldn't they have done that? Lots of signs for Menino and Flaherty, not too much Yoon presence. It seemed like the people standing around outside were mostly Flaherty supporters. No interference inside or anything.

I saw those twitter comments coming from Yoon's camp too. I guess he decided to take the low road when push came to shove on election day. If you have to spread lies about voter intimidation to get elected then it doesn't say much about your message. If anyone has REAL complaints about voter intimidation, please just call the number that someone posted above. It can also be found on the city's website. Other than that, don't listen to the desperate lies of a floundering Yoon campaign.

Back Bay, Emmanuel Espicopal Church on Newbury St, around 8:30 am. Pretty quiet. There were some workers huddled outside more than 120 ft from the entrance in accordance with the law. Most of them looked like Yoon supporters and I think there may have been a Menino one too.

Voter turnout okay at Cathedral High. Expect most voters to show up in afternoon. Candidate supporters were pushed across street by election officials after complaints of voter intimidation. Jovial supporter crowd. Readers of UH should also follow election on twitter. #bostonelection

I've already voted and everything was fine...no one inside the polls, also it seems pretty hard to be inside the polls handing things out -- there are people monitoring this...sounds like some of these posts are just plain lies designed to sensationalize what sounds like its been a pretty smooth process. also enough with the name calling, support your candidate, vote, and hope for the best -- the candidates don't go around calling each other 2nd grade names so why should their supporters? everyone who's voting is obviously over the age of 18, so let's act like it.

I voted this morning and polls look fine to me. There are always people outside with signs from every campaign, we just need to suck it up and be confident in our vote. It sounds like different campaigns are just posting up lies because they are lacking in substance. Also enough with the name calling of those who don't support your candidate of choice. The four candidates aren't running around calling either other "2nd grade mean names" so why are their supporters? Everyone who's voting today is obviously over the age of 18, so let's act like it.

Quite a change from last November, with the lines wrapping a few times around in the schoolyard. Seemed like typical light turnout. Not even anyone standing outside handing out literature.

Ward 11, Precinct 1 (District 7) was quiet as a tomb. Very polite poll workers. One put away her breakfast sandwich for the 15 seconds it took to check my name against the list. Those are manners like my momma taught me. On the other hand, the police officer was on the polite side of sullen; though, to be fair, usually it's the sullen side of mute.

This is the first polling day in some time when the greeting wasn't an abrupt "ID. I need to see your ID, please."

Two Flaherty robo-workers holding signs. One Turner worker laffin 'n' scratchin' with anybody and everybody coming through. All three outside the 150' perimeter, unlike previous years.

I voted at Jackson-Mann and it was extremely quiet at 9:15 there. No candidates out front either.

The man on the phone was on automatic mode and asked that I get out and vote. I told him that he just called me on my home phone which is in Watertown, MA.
He said "Ohhhhhhhhhh, sorry, wrong number"

I don't know why I have such a different experience from other people.

Voting at 20 Warren Street in Allston/Brighton. I entered from the door on Warren Street, had difficulty finding where to go, but once I found the place to vote, I only saw campaign workers. I then found my precinct and voted. And then I left.

I don't know why everyone else sees tons of campaign workers. Maybe I just sneaked in a less-used door (but there was a sign that said "Vote Here").

Globe says voters at a "trickle;" Herald says high voter turnout. Who to believe??

At 730am at the Boston Public Library, Copley, polling place, there were few voters. There were at least half a dozen burly men with trucks and motorcycles and the look of iron-workers hanging out with a Menino sign across the street. They were an imposing site, and I've not seen them in the neighborhood before. That said, they were doing nothing wrong. I'm not even sure they were there to influence the election, but they could have had that effect.

Does anyone know where the city council candidates will be tonight?

Went by and it was pretty standard - a couple of people campaigning for various candidates and signs all over the poles, construction barriers etc. Was told campaigners were warned to stand on the brick further up and down the street - not the granite that runs from the doorways to the street. Looked pretty slow but see that the Herald is already reporting turnout exceeding 2005 total by 3 pm (40,000 plus votes) - looks like we are headed to about 50,000-60,000 - which based on what I've read is not a good sign for Menino - means more than just the city hall crowd voting this time around. Should be interesting - supporting McCrea - but my guess is we'll get a Tommy/Tommy light runoff - one can only hope that enough people have been listening to the shenanigans going on at city hall the last 16 years! Off to cast my ballot! Whatever you do - VOOOOOOOOOOOTE or don't complain! And don't blame me - I voted for Muffy!

No campaigners outside on Ipswich Street at Noon.

Mostly seniors from Peterborough Street were voting during lunch time. No Russian (of which there are many seniors in the neighborhood) translator was present. This totally upset (flashes of the old country) a well-dressed lady who tried to read the ballot. The Russian translator was at lunch she was told (in English.) She promptly took to her cell phone in high volume surrounded by three poll workers.

My name wasn't on the list. After a call by one of the poll workers I was told I was "in the system" and should fill out a new registration form and could cast a provisional vote. ???

At 6:30 and Sam Yoon blocked entrance into Holy Name!! Okay... he did not intend to--he saw someone he recognized and stepped in front of me and (momentarily) blocked my way to the stairs to get into Holy Name. He was gracious about it but, unfortunately, I still gave my vote to Menino.

I pedaled over to my voting center a few streets over in the middle of the afternoon and as I walked in a couple Menino supporters encouraged me to "do the right thing, vote Menino". Then as I locked up my bike, one of the fellas offered to watch my bike for me...if I voted Menino!

I said nothing, and he said that's alright, "I'll still watch the bike for ya".

I took him up on the offer, though it's in Dorchester I could see my bike through the windows in the voting booth area so figured why not.

Voted in record time (less than a minute), due to going in the middle of the afternoon, no doubt. And as I walked out my bike was still there. I felt compelled to let the guy know I didn't "do the right thing" but kept quiet.

We joked about my Kryptonite lock being a poor theft deterrent and really only good for bashing people, and I added that's why I ride with it! It's my deterrent for people who honk incessantly. j/k if it wasn't obvious.

All in all, an uneventful voting session. No laws broken, a few good laughs exchanged, and we all lived happily ever after.

The End.

Have there been any reports about how many absentee ballots have been cast? I only ask because I'm in southern China for work and mailed my ballot before I left (full disclosure: I voted for Flaherty, and wanted to make sure I cast my vote for him, as well as Connolly and Pressley). Of course there will not be a ton of absentee ballots but given the somewhat healthy turnout I was wondering if the number was above average. Watching and waiting for the results with my morning coffee here!