Turnout on the Low Side

As of 10:30 a.m., fewer than 250 voters had cast ballots at the Masonic Hall.

That was 110 votes in Precinct 1, 77 in Precinct 2 and 59 in Precint 3 at the Pleasant Street polling place.

Inside and outside the assessement was that the day's voting was starting out slow.

"It's really slow," said Linda Nelson, a warden. 

Outside, among a huddle of campaign sign toters in the cool air, library trustee incumbent Phil Sweeney noted the slow pace, too. He had just voted.

Town Clerk Robin Michaud said the pace was similar over at Precints 4,5 and 6 at the Community Center by the high school.

The clerk did not want to venture a guess as to the final turnout but she estimated it would fall somewhere between 15 percent at the low end and 21 percent at the high end.

The turnout for the recent Senate primary was 21.5 percent, she said.

Back outside the Masonic Hall, voter Joe Geaney had just voted. He said he always does. He likes to vote.

But he, too, said he guessed the turnout would be light.

Nearby, another voter scooted into her vehicle. Her dog, Ezra Pound, riding shotgun, had been patiently waiting for her return.

Asked if Ezra had voted, his owner said he had, and he had marked the ballot for all the right people.

Voting continues until 8 p.m.

Check with Marblehead Patch after the polls close for results.

The next time Marblehead goes to the polls is June 25, voting on the Senate race and the over-ride.