Special election voter turnout higher than expected

By George P. Hassett

The number of ballots turned in at the polls has already matched some expectations of what the total count would be.

Dan Cence, Communications Director for Joseph K. Mackey’s campaign, said that as of 2 p.m. there had been 9,440 votes cast in the race for the 2nd Middlesex state Senate seat.

He said 4,110 ballots had been turned in from Somerville, 3,430 from Medford, 1,643 from Winchester and 290 from Woburn.

The high voter turnout is a testament to the effort of each campaign to pull their voters out to the polls, said Sean J. Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald was Chief of Staff for Charles E. Shannon, whose February death left the 2nd Middlesex state Senate seat open. The winner of today’s democratic primary will face Alderman at Large William A. White in the General Election.