Election Day: Final Hours Before Polls Close

In the final few hours before polls close in Belmont's Special Election for a Proposition 2 1/2 override totaling $2 million, insiders and town officials believe the vote will be close whether town voters approve or rejects the measure.

A tour of the town's precincts at 2 p.m. found voter interest was light in most polling stations with the exception of Precinct 6, the Fire Headquarters on Trapelo Road and Town Hall, Precinct 2. 

"There's been no problems at the polls," said who said that "it's been light" in regards to voters during the first part of the day.

With five hours left to vote at 3 p.m., most precincts saw a bit more than 10 percent of voters taking a ballot. 

For the first time in many years, poll watchers sat behind election workers to record resident who were voting. One Belmont, the resident-based pro-override group, registered with the Town Clerk's office to check off residents who voted. 

One Belmont also has volunteers with signs in front of precincts and at major intersections. It also sponsored a recorded phone call that was sent today from Board of Selectmen member Mark Paolillo asking for voters to support the override.

There has been no indication that residents have received anonymous calls from individuals or groups advocating a no vote. Those earlier calls have been criticized for misleading and false information.

Belmont Patch will update election results tonight as they are released as well as reactions and consequences of the vote.