Massachusetts Presidential Primary: Mid-day Update

The first voters were in line outside Bedford's polling place by 6:40 this morning - Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved — The first voters were in line outside Bedford’s polling place by 6:40 this morning – Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

State Representative Ken Gordon was on hand early, and greeted Rabbi Jill Perlman and her family on their way to vote - Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved — State Representative Ken Gordon was on hand early, and greeted Rabbi Jill Perlman and her family on their way to vote – Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved

Early morning voters began to line up in the corridor outside the John Glenn Middle School (JGMS) gymnasium at 6:40 am, with about two dozen people waiting for the doors to open at 7 am.

While the JGMS parking lot is typically jammed with sign-toting partisans advocating for their favorite candidates, there were none this year. The Democratic Town Committee’s table was attended by State Representative Ken Gordon, collecting signatures on nomination papers for Democratic candidates hoping to qualify for September’s state primary ballot.

Voters enjoyed “Coffee with a Cop” in the company of Chief Robert Bongiorno and police officers from the Bedford force as well as the VA Medical Center- Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved

Shortly after 7:30 the crowds arrived in full force, creating traffic jams along Railroad Avenue as cars waited to get into the JGMS parking lot, and Coffee with a Cop began around 8 am. Appreciative residents, enjoyed coffee and conversatoin after casting their ballots.

Selectman candidate William Moonan (l) joined Janet and Eric Humphrey for a cup of 'Coffee with a Cop' - Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights resreved — Selectman candidate William Moonan (l) joined Janet and Eric Humphrey for a cup of ‘Coffee with a Cop’ – Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved

Around noon, Town Clerk Doreen Tremblay reported that the turnout stood at approximately 1,000 voters. Bedford’s Town Report for the most recent Presidential Primary in 2008 showed a total turnout of 1,600 voters by the time the polls closed.