I highly recommend it for everyone and hope it increases turnout. I early voted since it was easier to swing by Government Center on my way back from Wonderland than run to the polling center across the street from my apartment after my Tuesday BU classes. I am sure many people are facing similar dilemmas and can use early voting as a great resource to help them exercise their franchise. The poll workers at City Hall ran a tight ship and I was in and out in under 10 minutes. The window for this election ended today, but something to consider next year. I found it to be a great convenience.
Please share widely!
I voted last Friday – straight Dem on the candidates, straight yes on the questions.
I did the same last Thursday.
I know it’s old-fashioned and perhaps a bit silly, but I actually LIKE to go vote on election day. I guess it’s the same reason that I’ve always liked to wait for Christmas Day to open gifts and I never cheat on an Advent calendar.
I look forward to voting Tuesday morning, and watching the returns Tuesday night. I’ll be voting nearly a straight Democratic ticket (Ms. Bump will not get my vote), and I’ll be voting “yes” on all the questions.
I also voted for Dan Fishman and did not vote for Bill Galvin, Steve Murphy, or Marilyn Delaney for re-election to their offices. Otherwise, I voted a straight Democratic ticket for contested races, blanks for uncontested races, and yes on all three ballot questions. I am optimistic about 2 and 3 and worried 1 might not pass.
You couldn’t bring yourself to vote for Galvin in the general?:( I’m glad he had a primary challenge whom I strongly considered supporting, but I soured on his campaign and ultimately wrote in Dick Howe. However, Galvin has also handled the job well enough to merit re-election.
Is Steve Murphy the former City Councilor who sought the Dem nomination for Treasurer in 2002? What office is he seeking and what is your objection?
I assume you are referring to Marilyn Devaney, the Governor’s Councilor?
Do you have objections to the other uncontesteds on your ballot or do you always blank those on principle? It’s still sometimes good to measure how much support the person has even if unopposed.
Galvin needs to go. I respect the Republican running, but he seemed unqualified for the job and I could not vote for anyone with an R next to their name this year. So I wrote in someone I felt could do a better job (wasn’t Zakim either-he ran a flawed campaign).
It’s the same Steve Murphy and he is running for re-election as Registrar of Deeds, I do not think he has done a good job and he’s openly bragged about doing it for the pay and patronage. He’s as Old Boston as they come. Devaney has also done a lousy job her entire tenure on the GC. They both had non-Republican opponents on the ballot who earned my vote.
I also did not blank all the uncontested races. Pressley, Brownsberger, and Santiago all deserves a vote of confidence. So it was the remaining uncontested races for Suffolk County offices. I am also taking Rollins opponent very seriously and made sure to vote for her.
Never understood your visceral animus for Galvin:(
It’s not “visceral animus” at all, it is based on his policies not based on his personality. I have never understood why so many Democrats think he is doing a good job. I just happen to think the guy in charge of keeping state records should lead on entering the digital age rather than insist it is too hard. I think, that the guy in charge of running state elections should be impartial and make access to voting easier rather than harder, rather than brag about being a partisan and whining about the changes courts or pressure groups force him to make. I think that the guy in charge of regulating certain businesses should not take contributions from them. Pretty basic Public Servant 101 stuff that Galvin and now Bump consistently fail to do. Has nothing to do with party or personality and everything to do with failing to meet their job description.
I agree he is not as visionary as he could be, hence a good primary challenge, which may have accomplished its mission in this case. However, he is neutral and a zealous defender of our voting rights against partisan shenanigans or foreign hackery. I dare say he may be one of the most expert and competent of his nationwide counterparts. I for one ask different questions in primaries and generals. In the former I ask can we do better; in the latter I ask is the Democrat (if an incumbent) doing a good job. That said, given the job’s role in elections I have often wondered whether this race should be officially non-partisan.
Ideally the position would be non-partisan and appointed as it is in New Hampshire. I will concede that when we consider the likes of Kris Koboch (who’s name is missing a K) and Brian Kemp, we are blessed by comparison.
I do think that bar keeps Massachusetts from electing the visionary leadership we need to have for long term success. Realistically, there is no chance my protest vote will spoil an easy re-election for Galvin. If this were a 50/50 race with a worse Republican, I would likely make a different choice and hold my nose.
There’s actually something interesting going on in NH for this office. My friend, college classmate, former Executive Councilor, and 2016 Dem gubernatorial nominee Colin Van Ostern is “running’ for the seat. The office is not popularly elected, but rather by the General Court on the first day of session in January. Colin is rallying support for legislators who will vote for him in preference to the longtime incumbent who is less than zealous regarding the franchise.
That’s cool! I wish him good luck! I could see Sununu as a potential upset tomorrow.
Last NH gubernatorial poll I saw showed a statistical tie.
It was remarkable how many people had already voted before this weekend’s GOTV. I look forward to seeing the turnout numbers now that so many people know about early voting and take advantage of it.