Officials to limit traffic election day
Published on October 22nd, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Expecting a record turnout, town officials will limit the flow of traffic around Town Hall on election day and open the polls two hours earlier to accommodate working voters.
According to Town Clerk John Hanright, Central Street will be designated as one-way for traffic heading from the Stoneham Square area to Common Street. Emerson Street traffic will also be one-way, from Pine Street onto Central.
Hanright also successfully lobbied the Selectmen to open the polls two hours earlier on election day. Voters can cast their ballots starting at 6 a.m., instead of the normal 8 a.m. opening. Polls will close at 8 p.m.
“I felt very strongly that safety needs to be our number one concern,” said Hanright, who worried that Central Street may become too congested on election day. “We're expecting a record turnout. If I were to guess, my gut feeling would be for a 90 percent turnout.”
The traffic restrictions will go into effect at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and will remain in effect until 8 p.m. In order to further facilitate traffic flow, the town plans to lift its permit parking restrictions in the municipal lots abutting and across from Town Hall.
Hanright also wants to remind voters that the absentee ballot applications must be pulled by 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3. Those ballots must be received in the town clerk's office by 8 p.m. in order to be counted.
Besides the presidential contest, voters will also decide on who will replace outgoing State Rep. Paul Casey (D-Winchester). Casey announced last April that he would not seek re-election to the 31st Middlesex District's state house seat.
Three candidates, including Republican Brian O'Connor, Democrat Jason Lewis, and Independent Chad Riley, are vying for the Beacon Hill post.
Three ballot questions will also be featured in the election, including proposals to eliminate the state income tax (Question 1) and decriminalize possession of marijuana (Question 2). Question 3 will ask voters to ban dog racing in the state.
Literature on the three ballot initiatives are available in Hanright's office.
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