Voters Slowly Trickle into the Polls Across Milton

Volunteers have been manning their posts at polling locations across Milton since 7 a.m. when voting began on this Primary Election Tuesday. Similarly, supporters have been camping out near those locations with signs for their preferred candidate.

The feeling across town this morning and afternoon has been that voter turnout is particularly slow for this election.

"Usually on primary days it's not as busy as it would be for a general election or a town vote," said Precinct 7 poll warden Dick Harrington from inside Cunningham Hall around noon today.

The slow turnout is moderately expected, but several poll wardens across town, including Harrington, have indicated that the turnout is slower this year than usual.

"We're a very busy precinct, ordinarily," said Anne J. Clark, Precinct 2 poll warden at St. Mary of the Hill School. Clark added the end of the day usually brings a rush of people after work.

The trickling in of voters has been felt in other precincts. Poll Warden Peter Rizzi at the Copeland Fieldhouse in Milton High School said just under 50 people voted from 7 to 9 a.m. in Precincts 5 and 9.

At the Milton Council on Aging, the polling place for Precinct 4, campaign volunteers William Brennan and Keirn O'Connell estimated about two cars an hour were entering the senior center parking lot.

In Precinct 7, Harrington offered a few ideas as to why turnout was low. He pointed out that on the Democratic ticket alone, the first four races were uncontested. Harrington also theorized less young voters and a lack of a serious town issue were keeping voters away.

Check back with Milton Patch later today for more results and photos from today's election. Polls across town close at 8 p.m.