Early Voting Off To Slow Start In Newton

NEWTON, MA — So far, the crowds are not stampeding the ballot boxes in the Garden City. For the past five days it's been possible for registered Waltham voters to head to one of several polling locations and cast a ballot early to avoid crowds or lines on Nov. 6. But as of halfway through the period in which early voting is an option, only 3,000 people had cast their vote early for the Midterm Elections, according to the clerk's office.

For the same time period two years ago there were 6,100 people that had voted early in the Presidential Election.

"Thursday was our busiest day," said Newton City Clerk David Olson.

Across the country it's a bit of a different story. In places like Texas, Georgia and Maryland early voting turnout is up and seems to indicate a record turnout. Across the country as of Monday morning the total number of ballots cast in all reporting jurisdictions was 18,326,282, according to the Election Project, which tracks the numbers.

Early voting was an effort to boost turn out two years ago. Each municipalitiy across the state is required now by law to have at least one polling spot available for voters to cast early ballots during regular business hours in the two weeks prior to Election Day. Unlike absentee balots, you don't have to give a reason. You just show up provide your address and name and if you're on the active registered voter list you can cast your ballot early.

Early voting proved popular then, with more than 1 million voters across the state opting to vote before actual Election Day, according to the state. Early voting is ongoing until three days before the general election, scheduled for Nov. 6, to give election officials time to set up for Election Day.

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