Early Voting Begins In New Bedford

Early voting in Massachusetts began on Monday.

In New Bedford officials say it got off to a fairly robust start, with Election Commissioner Maria Tomasia telling WBSM's Brian Thomas that roughly 100 people had cast ballots as of 12:30 p.m., including a fisherman about to head out to sea.

"The second person this morning was a fisherman who was going out to sea, and doesn't think that he's going to be back in time for the election, so therefore he already cast his ballot, and this is the purpose of it," said Tomasia "in this case he already he had a reason, but even if he didn't, he would have already cast his ballot."

Tomasia says she has also been fielding calls from voters with all kinds of questions about early voting with the most common being, "where do i vote?" and "when can i vote?"

"It's going to be all at City Hall, but on the Thursday we will be open on the 27th and the third, which is the third, which is the day before the end of early voting, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.," said Tomasia.

In addition early voting can also be done at the Wilks Branch Library, 1911 Acushnet Ave., on Oct. 27 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. and on Nov. 3 at Howland Green Library, at 3 Rodney French Blvd., from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

The early voting period ends Nov. 4 with voting available at City Hall from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.