Record turnout expected for 2012 vote in Massachusetts

BOSTON (WWLP) - Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin predicts that up to 3.2 million people will vote in Massachusetts; breaking the state’s previous record of 3.1 million voters in 2008.

With about 4.3 million people listed in the state as eligible to vote, there could be a 74% turnout rate this year. Galvin attributes the overwhelming participation to intense interest in the outcomes of the presidential and U.S. Senate races.

We are also seeing an increase in absentee ballots cast; from about 260,000 in 2008 to nearly 285,000 this year.

“One of our greatest concerns regarding tomorrow, of course, expecting this large turnout is lines. When we have a large turnout, many polling places are overwhelmed, especially during the early voting hours, early in the day and late in the day,” Galvin said.

To combat long lines, polling stations are being asked to create two lines, one for active voters and another for those who have not voted recently or filled out a Census survey.

Anyone who wants to know where their polling station is can check online at the state’s official website, wheredoivotema.com . You can also call Secretary William Galvin’s at (800) 462-VOTE if you have any problems at the polls.