I was voter number 443 in Somerville’s Ward 5, Precinct 2 at 9:30am this morning.
That’s a pretty good mid-term turnout. There was a healthy line — I haven’t seen a line like that since the 2012 presidential election (it was not nearly so crowded in November of 2016).
It will be interesting to see what unfolds this evening and then this week.
jconwaysays
You gotta wonder how many of those are first time voters new to the area, and whether there is a coattail effect for Gonzalez. We will see.
marcus-gralysays
2,353 people voted in 5-2 in 2016 verses 1,805 in 2012. The main reason the lines were shorter was because of early voting, which didn’t exists in 2012, and improvements the City made in its election procedures. Overall, slightly more people voted in person in Somerville this election than two years ago. Total turnout was down by about 5,000 voters citywide, however about 7,000 fewer people voted early, meaning more showed up day of.
methuenprogressivesays
Almost a Presidential election sized turnout so far in Methuen. No problems reported so far.
Christophersays
I early voted, so now I keep find myself wondering – isn’t there something I’m forgetting to do today?
methuenprogressivesays
GOTV!
fredrichlaricciasays
I held a homemade pole sign totem in my hometown of Wakefield this morning for Senator Elizabeth Warren, my State Senator Jason Lewis and our State Representative Paul Brodeur. That is – until it just started to downpour. I’ll go out again if it stops
Early voter turnout was 2,000 and the General John Galvin Middle School centralized town-wide polling location is doing a brisk business.
I’ve got my chair set up for my “sit-out” – it’s what us old timers do instead of a ‘stand – out” – because I’m not a 10 year old kid anymore; when I did my first VIS for a guy named John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1960. You may have heard of him. 🙂
Tonight, I’m hosting an open house Election Watch dinner party at my home where the bar is open and gourmet Chinese take out is on the menu. All are welcome.
I feel the ‘Blue Wave’ momentum building as I engaged in great conversations with voters today. Anecdotally, 9 out of 10 voters going in gave me a thumbs up, beeped their horn, a friendly wave or smile.
I predict Dems will flip 35 House seats and 2 Senate seats in Nevada and Tennessee to take control of Congress and mark the beginning of the end to this RepubliCON Reign of Terror!
Go Dems! SCORE!
johntmaysays
No representation, no signs for the Warren campaign at the Franklin Polls. Population of about 33,000, Franklin voted for Warren last time. I predict a win for Diehl – whose campaign is there with huge signs.
Christophersays
I assume you mean you predict that Diehl will carry Franklin?
SomervilleTomsays
Your prediction was incorrect.
When the electorate is a polarized as ours is today and our candidates are as diametrically opposed to each other as they our today in a high-profile race like this, lawn signs just don’t matter.
I suggest that a great many of those voters who claim to be “undecided” are blowing smoke. Voters in Franklin did not need signs to show them how deplorable Mr. Diehl is.
johntmaysays
My prediction was off, but not by a mile. Senator Warren won my precinct by one vote. I like to think it was my vote. Diehl won precinct 4 51% to 49%. Overall, it was 53% Warren, 47% Diehl.
Also, I was not talking about lawn signs, although Diehl clearly had more in Franklin. I was talking about campaign volunteers, flesh and blood human beings at the polls holding signs and willing to tale to voters. Diehl had them, Warren did not, at least during the times that I was aware of.
SomervilleTomsays
I understand what you were talking about. I’m glad that Ms. Warren won Franklin. I’m glad you voted for her (I never wondered about that). I’m pretty sure that your vote was not influenced by any of the signs or volunteers for Mr. Diehl.
I want our campaigns to treat voters with respect. In order to do that, I think each of us has to respect our voters. I think that respect is built on a foundation of taking people at their word and holding them responsible for their words and actions. That is what “empowerment” means.
When a voter in 2018 professes support for a Trumpist candidate, that voter endorses lies, bigotry, misogyny, corruption, and everything else that comes with Trumpism. When a campaign volunteer holds signs promoting Mr. Diehl and talking to voters about Mr. Diehl, that campaign worker is spreading those deplorable messages. “No” means no, and respect means that when a person says deplorable things, we take them at their word and dismiss them as deplorable.
It is no more appropriate to attempt to harangue a voter into supporting my candidate than to attempt to harangue a reluctant partner to accept my sexual advances. “No” means NO.
Respect also implies assuming that voters are able to inform themselves and make choices based on that information. Yesterday’s choice between Mr. Diehl and Ms. Warren was crystal-clear. I don’t believe that anybody walked into any voting booth in Franklin (or anywhere else in Massachusetts) and marked the box for Mr. Diehl based on a sign held outside or on a street-corner debate with a campaign volunteer for Mr. Diehl.
I don’t need my on-air meteorologist to remind me to bring my umbrella when the forecast calls for rain or put on my coat when it calls for cold.
I’m starting to react to “GOTV” the way I do to the incessant spam and the relentless “survey” emails I get each time I buy something.
I’m glad we Democrats made the progress we made yesterday, locally and nationally. I REALLY hope that Ms. Warren chooses to stay where she is and promote her economic agenda nationwide. We need her and we need her message.
ljtmaldensays
Many campaigns are de-prioritizing stand-outs (a.k.a visibility events) and signs at the polls. The reason is they want to put volunteer efforts where they believe (and where most studies indicate) those efforts do the most good–i.e. in direct voter contact: canvassing and phone calling. As a volunteer, I spent nearly 3 hours at my polling place yesterday with a combined sign for Elizabeth Warren, Jay Gonzalez, and my state senator Jason Lewis. A number of people thanked me for being there. I think it makes a difference, and my philosophy is what else am I going to do that is useful at 7 am? But I had to ASK for that sign and make it happen. In the end I was glad I did, because my state senator’s opponent was at that polling place as well for most of the time I was there. Beyond that, I saw several people for Yes on 1 and one person for Yes on 2.
Christophersays
Except apparently the Trahan campaign which so much wanted polling sign coverage that they tried to get me, a Lowellian, to go all the way to Gardner just to hold a sign. I declined as I deemed it a waste of my time and talents. Seems to me that to the extent signs at polls are effective at all it is largely based on who is holding them and seeing a sign held by someone you know may nudge you, assuming you don’t walk in already knowing how you will vote. Nobody knows me in Gardner.
methuenprogressivesays
Ayanna Pressley has won #MA07, becoming Massachusetts’ first black congresswoman!
Christophersays
All statewide incumbents won convincingly. MA federal delegation will remain all Democratic. One of my favorite pieces of news is that Tram Nguyen has defeated Jim Lyons for 18th Essex. Question 1 went down hard while 2 and 3 passed convincingly.
jconwaysays
Yeah a little bit bummed about Question 1, but having talked to a few no voters it’s apparent that the ratios were too rigid and would be implemented too quickly for most voters. Reconsidering those aspects for the future is something to consider, along with the massive amount of money spent on both sides.
Lyons losing is excellent nose, particularly to a candidate of color. Pressley and Rollins winning is also a changing of the guard.
Nationally I’m disappointed that the GOP looks likely to extend their Senate majority. I knew Abrams and O’Rourke has an uphill climb, but DeSantis is truly loathsome and Gillum would have made a great Governor.
AZ, FL, and MT Senate races are too close to call.
Democratic Housec, Walker out, Rohrbacher out, and 7 Democratic governorships and state legislative turnovers is a huge win.
Christophersays
The No on 1 campaign takes the prize for most misleading I’ve seen in a long time:( It still would have been up to the legislature to make sure it worked sensibly.
johntmaysays
No on 1 tells me that Mass is Blue….but only for wealthy white people with socially liberal views.
Christophersays
Having enough nurses to give patients the care and attention they need seems like a socially liberal view to me, but then, it also seemed like a no-brainer.
ljtmaldensays
I agree with your assessment on the reason for Question 1 losing. Both sides had long ago dug in their heels and engaged in misleading rhetoric. The NO vote was not a referendum on the problem–most people agree that there is a problem, at least in some places. It was not a referendum on nurses’ organizing, on patient safety, on hospital profits, or on nurses’ working conditions. It was a referendum on the specifics of the proposed solution. I voted NO because I didn’t want that issue on the ballot to begin with, and because, as jconway says, it was poorly constructed. I do hope the legislature makes another attempt to address the issue.
bob-gardnersays
On question 1: this isn’t the first time that the supposed progressives at the Globe have drunk the kool aid. The hospital administrators made the case that instead of staffing hospitals with the necessary ratio of nurses they would instead let people die outside of emergency rooms. The Globe’s response was to link high medical costs to “over regulation.”.
Over at the Globe they’ve internalized the Heritage Foundation’s talking points. I don’t know why, but I suspect a conscious, or unconscious deference to major advertisers. I’m sure nobody at the Globe wants to end up at the old Grossman’s warehouse site, like the Herald.
I was voter number 443 in Somerville’s Ward 5, Precinct 2 at 9:30am this morning.
That’s a pretty good mid-term turnout. There was a healthy line — I haven’t seen a line like that since the 2012 presidential election (it was not nearly so crowded in November of 2016).
It will be interesting to see what unfolds this evening and then this week.
You gotta wonder how many of those are first time voters new to the area, and whether there is a coattail effect for Gonzalez. We will see.
2,353 people voted in 5-2 in 2016 verses 1,805 in 2012. The main reason the lines were shorter was because of early voting, which didn’t exists in 2012, and improvements the City made in its election procedures. Overall, slightly more people voted in person in Somerville this election than two years ago. Total turnout was down by about 5,000 voters citywide, however about 7,000 fewer people voted early, meaning more showed up day of.
Almost a Presidential election sized turnout so far in Methuen. No problems reported so far.
I early voted, so now I keep find myself wondering – isn’t there something I’m forgetting to do today?
GOTV!
I held a homemade pole sign totem in my hometown of Wakefield this morning for Senator Elizabeth Warren, my State Senator Jason Lewis and our State Representative Paul Brodeur. That is – until it just started to downpour. I’ll go out again if it stops
Early voter turnout was 2,000 and the General John Galvin Middle School centralized town-wide polling location is doing a brisk business.
I’ve got my chair set up for my “sit-out” – it’s what us old timers do instead of a ‘stand – out” – because I’m not a 10 year old kid anymore; when I did my first VIS for a guy named John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1960. You may have heard of him. 🙂
Tonight, I’m hosting an open house Election Watch dinner party at my home where the bar is open and gourmet Chinese take out is on the menu. All are welcome.
I feel the ‘Blue Wave’ momentum building as I engaged in great conversations with voters today. Anecdotally, 9 out of 10 voters going in gave me a thumbs up, beeped their horn, a friendly wave or smile.
I predict Dems will flip 35 House seats and 2 Senate seats in Nevada and Tennessee to take control of Congress and mark the beginning of the end to this RepubliCON Reign of Terror!
Go Dems! SCORE!
No representation, no signs for the Warren campaign at the Franklin Polls. Population of about 33,000, Franklin voted for Warren last time. I predict a win for Diehl – whose campaign is there with huge signs.
I assume you mean you predict that Diehl will carry Franklin?
Your prediction was incorrect.
When the electorate is a polarized as ours is today and our candidates are as diametrically opposed to each other as they our today in a high-profile race like this, lawn signs just don’t matter.
I suggest that a great many of those voters who claim to be “undecided” are blowing smoke. Voters in Franklin did not need signs to show them how deplorable Mr. Diehl is.
My prediction was off, but not by a mile. Senator Warren won my precinct by one vote. I like to think it was my vote. Diehl won precinct 4 51% to 49%. Overall, it was 53% Warren, 47% Diehl.
Also, I was not talking about lawn signs, although Diehl clearly had more in Franklin. I was talking about campaign volunteers, flesh and blood human beings at the polls holding signs and willing to tale to voters. Diehl had them, Warren did not, at least during the times that I was aware of.
I understand what you were talking about. I’m glad that Ms. Warren won Franklin. I’m glad you voted for her (I never wondered about that). I’m pretty sure that your vote was not influenced by any of the signs or volunteers for Mr. Diehl.
I want our campaigns to treat voters with respect. In order to do that, I think each of us has to respect our voters. I think that respect is built on a foundation of taking people at their word and holding them responsible for their words and actions. That is what “empowerment” means.
When a voter in 2018 professes support for a Trumpist candidate, that voter endorses lies, bigotry, misogyny, corruption, and everything else that comes with Trumpism. When a campaign volunteer holds signs promoting Mr. Diehl and talking to voters about Mr. Diehl, that campaign worker is spreading those deplorable messages. “No” means no, and respect means that when a person says deplorable things, we take them at their word and dismiss them as deplorable.
It is no more appropriate to attempt to harangue a voter into supporting my candidate than to attempt to harangue a reluctant partner to accept my sexual advances. “No” means NO.
Respect also implies assuming that voters are able to inform themselves and make choices based on that information. Yesterday’s choice between Mr. Diehl and Ms. Warren was crystal-clear. I don’t believe that anybody walked into any voting booth in Franklin (or anywhere else in Massachusetts) and marked the box for Mr. Diehl based on a sign held outside or on a street-corner debate with a campaign volunteer for Mr. Diehl.
I don’t need my on-air meteorologist to remind me to bring my umbrella when the forecast calls for rain or put on my coat when it calls for cold.
I’m starting to react to “GOTV” the way I do to the incessant spam and the relentless “survey” emails I get each time I buy something.
I’m glad we Democrats made the progress we made yesterday, locally and nationally. I REALLY hope that Ms. Warren chooses to stay where she is and promote her economic agenda nationwide. We need her and we need her message.
Many campaigns are de-prioritizing stand-outs (a.k.a visibility events) and signs at the polls. The reason is they want to put volunteer efforts where they believe (and where most studies indicate) those efforts do the most good–i.e. in direct voter contact: canvassing and phone calling. As a volunteer, I spent nearly 3 hours at my polling place yesterday with a combined sign for Elizabeth Warren, Jay Gonzalez, and my state senator Jason Lewis. A number of people thanked me for being there. I think it makes a difference, and my philosophy is what else am I going to do that is useful at 7 am? But I had to ASK for that sign and make it happen. In the end I was glad I did, because my state senator’s opponent was at that polling place as well for most of the time I was there. Beyond that, I saw several people for Yes on 1 and one person for Yes on 2.
Except apparently the Trahan campaign which so much wanted polling sign coverage that they tried to get me, a Lowellian, to go all the way to Gardner just to hold a sign. I declined as I deemed it a waste of my time and talents. Seems to me that to the extent signs at polls are effective at all it is largely based on who is holding them and seeing a sign held by someone you know may nudge you, assuming you don’t walk in already knowing how you will vote. Nobody knows me in Gardner.
Ayanna Pressley has won #MA07, becoming Massachusetts’ first black congresswoman!
All statewide incumbents won convincingly. MA federal delegation will remain all Democratic. One of my favorite pieces of news is that Tram Nguyen has defeated Jim Lyons for 18th Essex. Question 1 went down hard while 2 and 3 passed convincingly.
Yeah a little bit bummed about Question 1, but having talked to a few no voters it’s apparent that the ratios were too rigid and would be implemented too quickly for most voters. Reconsidering those aspects for the future is something to consider, along with the massive amount of money spent on both sides.
Lyons losing is excellent nose, particularly to a candidate of color. Pressley and Rollins winning is also a changing of the guard.
Nationally I’m disappointed that the GOP looks likely to extend their Senate majority. I knew Abrams and O’Rourke has an uphill climb, but DeSantis is truly loathsome and Gillum would have made a great Governor.
AZ, FL, and MT Senate races are too close to call.
Democratic Housec, Walker out, Rohrbacher out, and 7 Democratic governorships and state legislative turnovers is a huge win.
The No on 1 campaign takes the prize for most misleading I’ve seen in a long time:( It still would have been up to the legislature to make sure it worked sensibly.
No on 1 tells me that Mass is Blue….but only for wealthy white people with socially liberal views.
Having enough nurses to give patients the care and attention they need seems like a socially liberal view to me, but then, it also seemed like a no-brainer.
I agree with your assessment on the reason for Question 1 losing. Both sides had long ago dug in their heels and engaged in misleading rhetoric. The NO vote was not a referendum on the problem–most people agree that there is a problem, at least in some places. It was not a referendum on nurses’ organizing, on patient safety, on hospital profits, or on nurses’ working conditions. It was a referendum on the specifics of the proposed solution. I voted NO because I didn’t want that issue on the ballot to begin with, and because, as jconway says, it was poorly constructed. I do hope the legislature makes another attempt to address the issue.
On question 1: this isn’t the first time that the supposed progressives at the Globe have drunk the kool aid. The hospital administrators made the case that instead of staffing hospitals with the necessary ratio of nurses they would instead let people die outside of emergency rooms. The Globe’s response was to link high medical costs to “over regulation.”.
Over at the Globe they’ve internalized the Heritage Foundation’s talking points. I don’t know why, but I suspect a conscious, or unconscious deference to major advertisers. I’m sure nobody at the Globe wants to end up at the old Grossman’s warehouse site, like the Herald.
In light of the Utah senate results, could we please have the blimp, for old time’s sake?
But Romney won and I thought the blimp symbolized his political failures.
Yes, instead let’s get Seamus off the roof, and find the nearest carwash.