Hey, there! Log in / Register

But what happens to the bake sales on Election Day?

Line to vote in West Roxbury

Shortly after noon, John Burger reported the line to vote at the West Roxbury library was around the corner and up near the Lyndon School.

Todd Duval reported a long line in Lower Mills, as well. And Dan O'Brien shows us the people waiting to vote in the Bolling Building in Dudley Square:

Topics: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

All the way around the corner to the school, just as it was at Noon.

up
Voting closed 0

It took us 1 hour and 12 minutes from the start of waiting in line until we walked out after voting.

up
Voting closed 0

So far it appears that the lines are waaaaay longer for early voting than for day-of voting.

So what's the appeal? That it's a weekend? That you're so sick of the election (amen) that the sooner you get your involvement over with the better?

I will admit that I am looking forward to shorter lines on election day as a result.

(p.s. adam, re: bake sales - I don't know if this is a general thing, but at our local voting place - the Bates K-5 - they seem to have stopped having bake sales as of a couple elections ago. Not sure why - it was a huge money-maker for the SPC when our kidlet was attending).

up
Voting closed 0

The appeal for me was to get this horrible election off my list. Totally worth an hour of my Saturday.

up
Voting closed 0

I wonder what the appeal is. I know everyone's so polarized this election that I think we're going to have record turn out. But my facebook feed is filled with my friends who are all voting. I guess I don't see the point except to miss the crowds, but it seems like the crowds are following to early voting so was it worth it?

up
Voting closed 0

The city's Elections Department has released the first three days worth of Early Voting data. Tough to draw any conclusions, but interesting to analyze, nonetheless.

More than 10% of those who chose to vote early appear to have registered for the first time in 2016. This would make sense - these voters are excited about having the opportunity to vote so they went out and voted during the first three days.

So, that's the appeal.

up
Voting closed 0

Given my experiences with past presidential elections, I figured it'd be a shorter wait time (with no fretting about being late to work) than voting on election day. The 30 mins I spent this morning to vote was definitely the fastest i have ever voted for a presidential election.

up
Voting closed 0

I have to work all day and when I get out it will be too late to vote. Yes I can wake up early and get to the polls before 7am, but this allows me at my own connivence to vote and get it out of my way.

up
Voting closed 0

I don't recall ever seeing more than 30 people in front of me when voting at City Hall. Have voted in 4 presidential races. Same for governor races - certainly closer than presidential races are in the state.

up
Voting closed 0

I'm going to be busy on Tuesday and it is much easier for me to do it tomorrow than to get an absentee ballot at some odd hour of a weekday.

My son came home from college for the weekend, and he voted today.

The time flexibility means that many people have just put out "meet me at city hall" facebook posts, and made a bit of a party of it - vote, then pastry or coffee klatch time.

I was working to day, but my husband said that he was wearing his "I voted" sticker around Medford Square, courtesy of Medford citizens, and several people said "you can go vote TODAY??".

up
Voting closed 0

I never have experienced a serious wait at all at St Nectarios, although I often voted around 9:30. Why throw away your time like this?

up
Voting closed 0

You don't have long waits. You can vote at 9:30.

That's nice, it works for you, and so you don't have a reason to early vote.

However, other people don't have this deal. So they vote early at their convenience. They are not "throwing away their time" because they aren't in your situation.

up
Voting closed 0

As an hourly paid employee who drives to Forest Hills and then takes the orange line to downtown crossing and needs to be at work by 830 and cannot leave earlier that 5 pm, the appeal is that i will not lose pay from either showing up late because the lines are long when polls open or by leaving early to try not to freeze while waiting in line in the dark.

up
Voting closed 0

It's probably still faster for those who vote before or after work. I remember waiting over an hour in line at 7 am in 2008.

up
Voting closed 0

up
Voting closed 0

...but they only scheduled one day, for six hours, at the BPL. Seems woefully inadequate given the local population. Contrast that with City Hall, where they're allowing voting every day. I'm guessing more registered Boston voters live near the BPL Government Center.

Anyway, I know it's the first time out and I applaud the idea. Hopefully they can work out the bugs next time around.

up
Voting closed 0

BPL would be a convenient location for me but I work on Saturdays-other Boston sites besides City Hall were/are also open only one day-it would be nice if they could expand days/hours at other locations for the next election.

up
Voting closed 0

Walked by there at 7ish, there was a police officer at the back of the line. Looked like those BBQ joints where a person is given a sign that says "If you are after me, you aren't getting any"

up
Voting closed 0

up
Voting closed 0

Normally the library closes at 5 pm-I wonder if the entire library is open for the extra hour?

up
Voting closed 0

All the money to open these polling places for so many days could have gone to the T and you would have gotten a fixed train or two.

up
Voting closed 0

The City of Boston doesn't run the T.

up
Voting closed 0

People working the polls are often getting comp time - they will be able to take much of the year-end time off.

up
Voting closed 0

Why? 1) I was near City Hall. 2) I did not feel rushed. 3) On November 8th I'm not concerned about getting home early enough to vote. 4) I'm done. Whatever the outcome for any of the candidates or referenda I've done my part.

up
Voting closed 0

The wait to vote in Allston was an hour long yesterday afternoon. There were far more people voting early than I saw vote in the last presidential election.

up
Voting closed 0

I'm holding out for Election Day. I WANT A CUPCAKE DAMMIT.

up
Voting closed 0

I totally get people needing to vote early, but I help out with our school bakesale and it's a big fundraiser at our BPS in West Roxbury. Maybe next election we'll see if we can set up a table outside the library as well.

up
Voting closed 0