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November 02. 2012 1:05AM
Nashua clerk predicts a huge turnout
NASHUA - The city clerk is predicting a huge voter turnout for next week's state election, anticipating about 42,000 voters will hit the polls in Nashua.
"The lines are going to be so massive," City Clerk Paul Bergeron said Thursday while training poll workers. "You are going to be extremely busy."
Extra workers will be stationed at each polling site for the election. The goal, Bergeron said, is to get people in and out of the election booths in a timely manner, allowing more parking spots to open for new voters.
Bergeron said managing the lines at the voter registration table and the checklist table will be critical in allowing residents to quickly obtain a ballot, vote and hand in their paperwork.
He anticipates a large number of people will register to vote on the day of the election.
Bergeron said parking will be a challenge Tuesday. He recommended that all of the poll workers park their own personal vehicles away from the polling site, which will allow for additional empty parking spaces for voters.
The new voter identification law will also likely slow the lines, especially if many voters do not have identification and opt to sign a challenge voter affidavit. During the last election, about 6.2 percent of voters did not show identification. Bergeron said this could be closer to 10 percent on Tuesday.
There are currently about 45,000 registered voters in Nashua, which has a population of around 86,000. However, Bergeron said 13 or 14 percent of the city's residents are foreign-born, meaning some of them may not be American citizens or able to vote.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling locations are: Ward One at Broad Street Elementary School, 390 Broad St.; Ward Two at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, 48 Charlotte Ave.; Ward Three at Amherst Street School, 71 Amherst St.; Ward Four at Ledge Street Elementary School, 139 Ledge St.; Ward Five at Main Dunstable Elementary School, 20 Whitford Road; Ward Six at Fairgrounds Middle School, 27 Cleveland St.; Ward Seven at Dr. Normand Crisp Elementary School, 50 Arlington St.; Ward Eight at Bicentennial Elementary School, 296 E. Dunstable Road; and Ward Nine at New Searles Elementary School, 39 Shady Lane.
Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.
"The lines are going to be so massive," City Clerk Paul Bergeron said Thursday while training poll workers. "You are going to be extremely busy."
Extra workers will be stationed at each polling site for the election. The goal, Bergeron said, is to get people in and out of the election booths in a timely manner, allowing more parking spots to open for new voters.
Bergeron said managing the lines at the voter registration table and the checklist table will be critical in allowing residents to quickly obtain a ballot, vote and hand in their paperwork.
He anticipates a large number of people will register to vote on the day of the election.
Bergeron said parking will be a challenge Tuesday. He recommended that all of the poll workers park their own personal vehicles away from the polling site, which will allow for additional empty parking spaces for voters.
The new voter identification law will also likely slow the lines, especially if many voters do not have identification and opt to sign a challenge voter affidavit. During the last election, about 6.2 percent of voters did not show identification. Bergeron said this could be closer to 10 percent on Tuesday.
There are currently about 45,000 registered voters in Nashua, which has a population of around 86,000. However, Bergeron said 13 or 14 percent of the city's residents are foreign-born, meaning some of them may not be American citizens or able to vote.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling locations are: Ward One at Broad Street Elementary School, 390 Broad St.; Ward Two at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, 48 Charlotte Ave.; Ward Three at Amherst Street School, 71 Amherst St.; Ward Four at Ledge Street Elementary School, 139 Ledge St.; Ward Five at Main Dunstable Elementary School, 20 Whitford Road; Ward Six at Fairgrounds Middle School, 27 Cleveland St.; Ward Seven at Dr. Normand Crisp Elementary School, 50 Arlington St.; Ward Eight at Bicentennial Elementary School, 296 E. Dunstable Road; and Ward Nine at New Searles Elementary School, 39 Shady Lane.
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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.
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