Boston polling places ran out of ballots on election day

By Hannah Woods

Before voting closed on Election Day, there were several reports in Boston of ballot shortages at multiple polling locations. Voters in line before 8 p.m. still had the opportunity to vote, according to WBZ-TV.

Reported locations with ballot shortages included Ward 18, parts of Hyde Park and West Roxbury, and Roslindale. Voting hours were not extended at any location in Massachusetts despite shortages. 

The Boston Elections Department did not “send all ballots in their possession to polling places,” said a spokesperson for the secretary of state.

New ballots were delivered by Boston Police to the locations in need of more ballots while voters continued to wait in lines. 

Voters were able to leave their phone numbers with poll workers in case they needed to leave and would be notified once the ballots were delivered. As the shortages were resolved, polling locations closed and police delivered ballots back to City Hall for processing. 

Massachusetts has 275 precincts where ballots were cast.