Local News

Record voter turn out for the New Hampshire Primary had an unexpected and bad consequence Tuesday: some polling places were running low on ballots. In particular, Democratic ballots were in short supply.

New Hampshire's Secretary of State told WBZ that some polling places were running low on ballots.  However, he could not tell us where specifically.

The Secretary of State's office was working on figuring out which locations were running low and getting additional ballots to those places. According to a spokesperson of the Secretary of State's office, people are driving to polling places and dropping off extra ballots.

"We are not going to run out of ballots," Gov. John Lynch emphasized.  "The Secretary of State is getting ballots to places that are running low.  But, no, we're not running out of ballots."

If locations run low before the ballots are replenished, town and city clerks are allowed to make a copy of the ballots for voters to use.

On Monday, Secretary of State William Gardner predicted record turnout for Tuesday's primary election, thanks in part to mild weather, and also an exciting Primary season. He predicted more than half a million voters, or 60 percent, of registered voters would show up at the polls. Gardner predicted an additional 50,000 voters would register at polling places on Election Day, which is allowed in New Hampshire.

The key to the Democratic ballot shortage could be independent voters, who can choose either ballot on Election Day. Gardner predicted 150,000 independents would vote Tuesday, with about two-thirds selecting Democratic ballots.  

"Of the 500,000 (expected voters), 150,000 are independents, so there's really a lot of excitement," Lynch said.  "With 150,000 independents voting today, we expect about 90,000 of those to vote on the Democratic side."  

No complaints have been filed due to the ballot shortages.

Some polling places across the state don't close until 8pm Tuesday night.