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Low turnout for 16th District election
POLLS OPEN UNTIL 8 P.M.
By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]
WORCESTER — If this morning's voter turnout is any indication, it is going to be a long day for election workers in the 16th Worcester District.
"We're kind of slow right now, " said Cher Parker, warden at Ward 5 Precinct 2 at the EcoTarium."Last time (for the primary election) we were busy by now."
Only eight people had cast ballots shortly before 8 this morning.
Polls opened at 7, and will remain open until 8 tonight. Voters in the 16th Worcester District today choose their next state representative.
Democrat Daniel M. Donahue and Republican Carol E. Claros are vying for an opening created this summer by the resignation of Democrat John P. Fresolo, who stepped down amid a House ethics investigation. In the Aug. 13 primary election, in which Mr. Donahue emerged from a field of five Democrats, just 3,244, or around 15 percent, of the district's 21,465 registered voters came out. Ms. Claros did not face a primary challenge.
Ms. Parker and the other poll workers had low expectations for turnout today. But there were high expectations for group camaraderie among elections workers — and even a friendly wager on which person could come closest to predicting the number of voters who will cast ballots. There are 2,319 registered voters in the precinct, and all the guesses were less than 400.
"And I keep them laughing," said Loretta Steele, the elections inspector for the precinct.
Most of the polling places this morning had campaign poll watchers observing as people checked in.
Ms. Claros and Mr. Donahue both voted early today. Both were in high spirits.
Ms. Claros voted with her 9-year-old daughter, Giselle, by her side at the voting booth in the EcoTarium. The candidate then dropped her daughter off at school.
"I can't believe the day is finally here," Ms. Claros said. "I always remain positive, no matter what."
Mr. Donahue and his parents cast their ballots at Ward 6 Precinct 4 in the Quinsigamond Village Neighborhood Center on Greenwood Street, where several College of the Holy Cross students and faculty voted for him. He then headed to polling places at the senior center on Providence Street and Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center.
"We're out there working it real hard," Mr. Donahue said. "I think we had a great message that resonated."
Holy Cross senior and political science major Tory Coughlin said she changed her address from Winchester to Worcester because she wanted to be involved in local politics.
"I voted for Dan Donahue because I like what he stands for," Ms. Coughlin said. "And I always support Holy Cross alumni."
Jaya Sreedhara, warden at Ward 6, Precinct 4 at the community center, said 23 people had cast ballots by 8:30 this morning, including Ms. Coughlin. Of those, nine absentee ballots and the Donahues' votes were included.
At Ward 5, Precinct 5 at the Broad Meadow Brook center, JoAnne Senna, warden said 27 absentee ballots were included in 67 votes cast by 9 this morning.
"There was a lot more interest in the primary," Ms. Senna said. "It's slow today."
Paul Clancy, a former city councilor, brightened up the morning for poll workers after he cast his ballot at Broad Meadow Brook. He stopped to chat with several of them On the way out, Mr. Clancy said he cast his ballot for Mr. Donahue.
"I voted for him because he's young, bright and vibrant," Mr. Clancy said.
The 16th Worcester District includes Vernon Hill, Grafton Hill, College Hill, Quinsigamond Village, Green Island, and the Massasoit Road area. It consists of Ward 5, Precincts 1, 2, 4, and 5; Ward 6, and Ward 8, Precincts 1 and 5.
One campaign sign - for City Council hopeful Michael Gaffney - stood out among signs for Claros and Donahue at Broad Meadow Brook.
Contact Linda Bock via email at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @LindaBockTG
http://www.telegram.com/article/20130910/NEWS/309109746/1116
POLLS OPEN UNTIL 8 P.M.
By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]
WORCESTER — If this morning's voter turnout is any indication, it is going to be a long day for election workers in the 16th Worcester District.
"We're kind of slow right now, " said Cher Parker, warden at Ward 5 Precinct 2 at the EcoTarium."Last time (for the primary election) we were busy by now."
Only eight people had cast ballots shortly before 8 this morning.
Polls opened at 7, and will remain open until 8 tonight. Voters in the 16th Worcester District today choose their next state representative.
Democrat Daniel M. Donahue and Republican Carol E. Claros are vying for an opening created this summer by the resignation of Democrat John P. Fresolo, who stepped down amid a House ethics investigation. In the Aug. 13 primary election, in which Mr. Donahue emerged from a field of five Democrats, just 3,244, or around 15 percent, of the district's 21,465 registered voters came out. Ms. Claros did not face a primary challenge.
Ms. Parker and the other poll workers had low expectations for turnout today. But there were high expectations for group camaraderie among elections workers — and even a friendly wager on which person could come closest to predicting the number of voters who will cast ballots. There are 2,319 registered voters in the precinct, and all the guesses were less than 400.
"And I keep them laughing," said Loretta Steele, the elections inspector for the precinct.
Most of the polling places this morning had campaign poll watchers observing as people checked in.
Ms. Claros and Mr. Donahue both voted early today. Both were in high spirits.
Ms. Claros voted with her 9-year-old daughter, Giselle, by her side at the voting booth in the EcoTarium. The candidate then dropped her daughter off at school.
"I can't believe the day is finally here," Ms. Claros said. "I always remain positive, no matter what."
Mr. Donahue and his parents cast their ballots at Ward 6 Precinct 4 in the Quinsigamond Village Neighborhood Center on Greenwood Street, where several College of the Holy Cross students and faculty voted for him. He then headed to polling places at the senior center on Providence Street and Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center.
"We're out there working it real hard," Mr. Donahue said. "I think we had a great message that resonated."
Holy Cross senior and political science major Tory Coughlin said she changed her address from Winchester to Worcester because she wanted to be involved in local politics.
"I voted for Dan Donahue because I like what he stands for," Ms. Coughlin said. "And I always support Holy Cross alumni."
Jaya Sreedhara, warden at Ward 6, Precinct 4 at the community center, said 23 people had cast ballots by 8:30 this morning, including Ms. Coughlin. Of those, nine absentee ballots and the Donahues' votes were included.
At Ward 5, Precinct 5 at the Broad Meadow Brook center, JoAnne Senna, warden said 27 absentee ballots were included in 67 votes cast by 9 this morning.
"There was a lot more interest in the primary," Ms. Senna said. "It's slow today."
Paul Clancy, a former city councilor, brightened up the morning for poll workers after he cast his ballot at Broad Meadow Brook. He stopped to chat with several of them On the way out, Mr. Clancy said he cast his ballot for Mr. Donahue.
"I voted for him because he's young, bright and vibrant," Mr. Clancy said.
The 16th Worcester District includes Vernon Hill, Grafton Hill, College Hill, Quinsigamond Village, Green Island, and the Massasoit Road area. It consists of Ward 5, Precincts 1, 2, 4, and 5; Ward 6, and Ward 8, Precincts 1 and 5.
One campaign sign - for City Council hopeful Michael Gaffney - stood out among signs for Claros and Donahue at Broad Meadow Brook.
Contact Linda Bock via email at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @LindaBockTG
http://www.telegram.com/article/20130910/NEWS/309109746/1116
