BOSTON – Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin has opened an investigation into the Boston Election Commission after several polling stations no more ballots available on election day.
Galvin will hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m. You can watch it live on CBS News Boston by clicking the video player above.
Ballot shortages in Boston
The voting shortfalls were reported in several locations in Ward 18, including parts of Hyde Park and West Roxbury.
Boston Councilman Ed Flynn also posted on social media that the poll at Cathedral High School in the South End no longer included any English-language ballots. Galvin’s office said the locations had run out of ballots due to high turnout.
Jessica Burko
Thanks to a police escort with flashing lights and sirens, the ballots were replenished. The Secretary of State’s office also ordered the city to send ballots to other locations to ensure they don’t run out.
Galvin said county election officials were unable to contact the Boston Election Commission when they noticed they were running low.
“This indicates that the city did not originally deliver sufficient ballots to Boston precincts, did not have adequate communication channels with polling places, and did not have a plan to deliver additional ballots as needed and in a timely manner,” Galvin said. in a letter to Boston Election Commission Chairman Eneida Tavares on Wednesday.
‘Unreasonable unnecessary delays’
“While it appears that these locations ultimately received ballots, voters were subjected to unreasonable unnecessary delays in exercising their right to vote,” Galvin wrote. “This is unacceptable and contrary to the most fundamental principles of our democratic process.”
Galvin said 766,200 ballots were printed by his office and delivered to polling places in Boston. A city spokesperson apologized for “any inconvenience or confusion” caused by the shortages.
Galvin also said election officials were reminded Monday to stay in touch with polling places to verify vote counts at polling places.
No comment has yet been received from the Boston Election Commission.
