Polls will be open until 8 p.m. statewide.
Henryne LockettSPRINGFIELD - Polling places were quiet in the Forest Park neighborhood Tuesday morning as the U.S. Senate special primary elections get underway.
“It’s very, very slow,” said Henryne Lockett, warden for Precinct 6E, which along with Precinct 3H, votes at Springfield Weslyan Church at 98 White Street. “I am hoping that it will pick up but it’s like a snail right now.”
As of about 9:30 a.m., 11 Precinct 6E voters and 6 Precinct 3H voters had cast their ballots.
Elsewhere in the city, 31 precinct 8G voters had cast a ballot at the Warner School in Springfield's Sixteen Acres neighborhood as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Down the road in Pine Point at Central High School on Roosevelt Avenue, 24 precinct 8C voters had visited the polls by 10:45.
Things were a little bit busier inside the Forest Park Library Community Room, home to precincts 6A and 6B. As of about 10 a.m., 22 Precinct 6A voters and 57 Precinct 6B voters had cast their ballots, said Vincenzo Ferraro, warden for Precinct 6B.
“We are actually better than normal for a primary,” said Nicola Manion, 6A warden. “However, it’s going to be a long day.”
Two Democratic candidates -- U.S. Reps. Stephen F. Lynch, of Boston, and Edward J. Markey, of Malden -- and the three Republicans -- former U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, of Abington, private equity investor Gabriel E. Gomez, of Cohasset, and state Rep. Daniel B. Winslow, of Norfolk -- are squaring off to replace Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, who gave up his seat in the U. S. Senate to become Secretary of State.
Those voting at the Weslyan Church included Paul Mooradd, who said Gomez got his vote. “Primarily because he is pro-life,” he said.
Springfield Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said mid-morning that voting has been slow citywide. Some precincts reported as few as two ballots cast as of about 8 a.m.
Polls are open until 8 p.m. statewide.
“I am not sure if it is a lack of interest or people not knowing there is an election,” Oyala said, adding that she hopes turnout will perk up later in the afternoon.
For what it’s worth, weather shouldn’t be a be a factor in voter turnout.CBS3 meteorologists say today will be mostly sunny and dry with a high of 70 degrees.