On our way from our polling place to the T this morning, we passed a school bus full of kids who were screaming, "Vote for Menino! Vote for Menino today at the Curley School." Look out for the big yellow machine.
All kidding aside, check out the #bostonelection thread on Twitter, which has allegations and counter-allegations of shenanigans at the polling places. Twitter user datafordonkeys, a self-described "Massachusetts Political Consultant specializing in message development," posted, "More reports of @mayortomenino machine INSIDE polling place in Roslindale. #voterproblems Vote against the machine." Datafordonkeys, also known as Feargal O'Toole, is a Yoon supporter. Wes Dempsey, a Menino supporter posting under the name "WesKnuckle," has been the most vocal critic of the Yoon supporters, writing, "Would love to have been at @samyoonformayor' strategy meeting last night: 'go online. Make up lies!'"
(Incidentally, if datafordonkeys's claim that Menino supporters are passing out Menino baseball cards are true, please pick up a couple for Bostonist. Thanks.)
If you do run into difficulties voting, or if you see something that you think is a violation of Massachusetts voting law, call the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Elections Division. The city has its own elections department, but you might be hesitant to contact it if you believe that the mayor is behind the voting problems that you're experiencing. But it is a good place to go if you need to find out where your polling place is.
A note on our own experience. We did have to pass a phalanx of people with fliers on our way to the polling place, but they were all for city council candidates. We didn't see any operatives from any of the mayoral campaigns. While there was a woman collecting signatures for Martha Coakley's Senate run, we did not notice whether or not she was a Menino supporter, as some Yoon supporters have alleged.
Do you have a story from the polls today? Share it in the comments.
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