Valley Morning Update: High hopes, long lines as V-Day arrives
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NORTHAMPTON - The early birds had to wait in line.
Early voters at the Northampton Senior Center, the new poling place for Wards 3 and 4 this election, had wrapped around the back of the building by the time polls opened this morning. They moved through at a steady clip, though, and the line dissipated before 8 a.m.
Senior center Director Patricia Shaughnessy (who happens to be the former registrar of voters for the city) estimated at least 200 voters passed through the doors in the first 50 minutes of voting. The first voter was waiting outside at 5 a.m., she said.
At the Leeds School, polling place for Ward 7B, the turnout was also heavy. By 8:30, there were just shy of 300 ballots already submitted.
"This is about the biggest (turnout) since Reagan in 1980," said warden Bob Riddle, who was the precinct's constable that year.
Most voters interviewed after casting their ballots said the presidential contest between Barack Obama and John McCain was the main draw. But the three state ballot questions, on the income tax, marijuana possession and dog racing, also elicited strong feelings.
"I have finally the great pleasure of voting for a candidate I really believe in," said Anna Kelly of Northern Avenue, who voted for Obama. "It's not the lesser of two evils, it's better this time."
Kelly came to the senior center with her partner, Danielle Kelly, their daughter Ada and their dog Joey. The couple said "Obama" was their daughter's third or fourth word.
Danielle Kelly said she voted against ballot Question 1, which would eliminate the state income tax, primarily because she believes it would wipe out funding for a resource she uses regularly, the Northampton Parents Center.
Tristan Walsh of Dewey Court worked overnight before getting in line at the senior center to cast his vote. Afterward he was headed to Keene, N.H., where he and two friends from Florence planned to do some last-minute campaigning for Obama.
Alice Gray of Market Street said she felt good about voting for Obama even if Massachusetts likely won't be pivotal in the national election.
"Walking up here and seeing satisfied people walking away is good enough," she said.
Gray said she voted against ballot Question 3, which would ban dog racing, after discussing it with friends and the director of a dog rescue organization. She said she feels confident the industry is well regulated and the animals are treated humanely.
Ken Madigan of Main Street in Leeds said he was motivated to vote for Question 2, which would decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, saying current laws are too harsh for what he sees as a minor offense.
"If they make a mistake, they shouldn't have to live with a big black X," he said.
Easthampton voters, many nursing coffees, filled parking lots at the city's two polling places by the time polls opened at 7 a.m.
Similar scenes in Easthampton
Both White Brook Middle School and Easthampton High School had lines out the door prior to 7 a.m., poll workers said. Many voters interview said they wished to vote before heading to work.
More than 1,100 of the city's 11,614 registered voters had voted before 8:30 a.m. More than 500 city voters sent in absentee ballots, as well, City Clerk Barbara LaBombard said.
The lines moved quickly Tuesday morning, and by 7:45 a.m. those waiting had cast their ballots, while a steady flow of voters continued to file in to the polling places.
Registrar of Voters Barbara Craig credited LaBombard with keeping lines moving at a brisk pace. "I think Barbara was especially organized this year," she said from her post at the high school.
Main Street resident Donna Lebeau, 61, and her sister, Pat Jackson, 73 of Lang Avenue, both employees of Holyoke Dental Associates, were headed into Easthampton High School around 7:30 a.m. before reporting to work.
Lebeau said her biggest Election Day issue was voting for president.
"It's about picking the right person," she said.
Lebeau said that, after the longest presidential campaign in history, she didn't know what people would have to talk about after Tuesday.
"It's going to be very anticlimactic tomorrow," she said with a laugh.
Main Street resident Michael Lucey, 57, was holding a No on Question 1 sign Tuesday morning at the high school.
"I think these ballot questions are very important," he said. "I don't know just how devasting it would be if it passed, but I know it would be devastating."
Lucey, a UMass housing employee, said that he is worried what may happen to his job if the income tax is repealed.
School Committee member Eric Yates was holding Obama signs with his wife, Kara McElhone and their two young daughters.
The two canvassed for Obama in New Hampshire around Columbus Day, they said.
Paul Street resident Nancy Favaro, 55, and Church Street resident John Malikowski, 79, stood across from McElhone, holding John McCain signs.
"It's primarily about experience for me," said Malinowski, who also said he was in favor of Question 3 to ban greyhound racing.
"I love animals," he said.
Stanley Street resident Patricia Barrows, 59, having just voted at White Brook Middle School Tuesday morning, said that she came to the polls because of "everything."
"It's the war, it's health care, it's education, it's everything," she said. "We are headed in the wrong direction."
Poll worker Eleanor Kwolek, who has worked the city polls since 1972, said that presidential elections always draw a line.
Kwolek predicted that lines would form again around noon and then from 4 p.m. until the polls close at 8 p.m.
"It's going to be busy," she said.
