Hundreds of Hampshire County residents cast their votes for president Monday as early voting kicked off for the first time ever in Massachusetts.
While the extended opportunities to vote can mean easier ballot access for those with busy schedules, mobility impairments or people who will be out of town on Election Day, several voters Monday said they were casting their ballot as a way to finally complete their part of the democratic process in this protracted — and sometimes anxiety-provoking — election cycle.
“I’m very nervous about the situation,” said Easthampton voter Jennifer Brown. Brown opted to make a day out of it — heading to the Municipal Building to cast a ballot for Hillary Clinton around noon before treating herself to lunch on her day off.
The new statewide early voting program runs through Nov. 4. Residents may vote at specific polling places in their community, oftentimes the city or town halls, rather than take the traditional route of heading to the polls on Election Day.
The initiative is distinct from the existing absentee voting system, which requires that residents be physically unable to get to the polls on Nov. 8. Those interested in participating in the early voting system need no excuse.
Information about where and when early voting is available in each city and town is available on the secretary of state’s website at www.sec.state.ma.us or by calling your city or town clerk.
Several Easthampton voters were particularly eager, with three lining up prior to the opening of polls at the Municipal Building at 7:30 a.m., according to election constable Bob Daysh.
“Most people are liking this, I think,” Daysh said.
By the time the polls closed Monday, 225 people had cast their ballots, out of about 12,000 registered voters in Easthampton.
Daysh said in chit-chatting with voters Monday, he discovered several common reasons cited by people for voting early. For some, it was the convenience. Others were already at the Municipal Building to pay their taxes, for example.
Resident Peggy Abild came to vote early with her husband, because they’ll be in Texas on Nov. 8. She’s never cast an absentee ballot before, but she said the early voting process was very easy.
Bertha Josephson voted early to allow her to focus her time on Election Day to work with the Clinton campaign to mobilize voters.
“I think it’s great. It’s long overdue,” Josephson said.
The retired judge said the early voting initiative is a move in the right direction toward ballot access in Massachusetts. Voters in other states are not so lucky — they have to face long lines and other barriers that can make voting a daylong commitment.
“The more people vote, the stronger our democracy is,” she said.
By early afternoon, Northampton saw similar voter turnout. About 1 percent of the city’s 21,223 registered voters, or 213, came out to the polls by 3 p.m.
“It’s been very, very busy,” City Clerk Wendy Mazza said. “It’s been steady all day in here.”
By 8 p.m., Mazza reported that 343 voters had cast ballots, and more were coming in before the 8:30 closing time.
Northampton has eight booths set up in the first-floor hallway outside the clerk’s office, and Mazza said at some point each booth was filled. She said she expects voters to continue to turn out until early voting ends.
“I’m hoping over the course of the next 10 days that it will pick up even more,” she said. “It will alleviate some of the pressure at the polls.”
In Williamsburg, nearly 3 percent of the town’s 2,023 registered voters had cast their ballots at Town Hall. That includes Clinton voter Ben Thompson, who will be out of town on Election Day.
“We are going to be in Japan,” Thompson said. “It could be a good thing — we might just stay there.”
Town Clerk Brenda Lessard said there’s been a great deal of interest among residents in voting early. She has fielded several calls from people asking about early voting hours.
Williamsburg was recently honored by Common Cause for its early voting hours, which are beyond what is required by the state. The town will offer opportunities to vote in the evening and weekend.
“People are very happy I’m going to be open on the weekend,” Lessard said.
Poll worker Diane Punska, who has worked election days for the last decade, said Monday’s voting was much more casual and relaxed than what is seen on the big day.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com