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Election day
By adamg on Tue, 09/27/2005 - 9:17am
Today's the preliminary election for at-large Boston City Council seats. As always, they take their politicking seriously in West Roxbury (above: Holy Name School at Centre Street and the West Roxbury Parkway).
For you Somerville and Medford readers, today is the special election to fill Charlie Shannon's state Senate seat.
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Comments
sign placement
I complained to my election warden at my Boston polling place this morning that the signs affixed to the fence with zip ties were less than 150 feet from the entrance to the polling place. It's a state law that no candidate or campaign material can be within 150 feet of a polling location entrace. Trouble is, it's like this at every election, and I vote in every election. The warden's response: They make an exception for them because it's the city and the signs and campaigners would otherwise end up on private property. That excuse didn't fly in my hometown when I was holding signs at polling locations. The cops threatened to arrest us.
I bet they let them do it because someone complained that they couldn't get close enough to greet the voters who pull up to the door in their cars. But isn't that the point? When I go to the polls, I know who I am voting for and having Rob Consalvo hand me a donut hole isn't going to change my vote. I can be bought, but for much more than a donut hole.
The cops threatened to arrest you?!?
Jesus H. Christ!
You bet
It was a particularly well-fought election, and it was the first time in years, if ever, they were enforcing the 150-foot rule. I and some cohorts strayed across the line on the pavement a few times by way of simply standing too close to begin with. Someone complained and the officer came over to the whole group and advised us that if one of us stepped over the line again the whole group would be arrested. While I disagreed with arresting the whole group for the transgression of one, I had a lot of respect for this cop because he was actually willing to arrest us. I certainly didn't test him, and when my time holding signs was up I felt I had to tell him that I was going in to vote so the rest wouldn't be arrested. I didn't mind, either, because I knew I would be able to walk to the polls unmolested.