Only 1 vote tallied at Boston precinct on Election Day

Who did you vote for? It’s a secret you keep from friends, co-workers, and sometimes even your own spouse.

But a bizarre twist at the polls on Tuesday has made one Boston voter’s decision a matter of public record.

“That should really be a secret for all voters. It’s just unfair,” said Avi Green, from MassVote.

Martin Rivera is a resident of Boston’s Long Island Shelter, and one of more than 100,000 voters to head to the polls on Tuesday. But he was the only voter to show up at Ward 1, Precinct 15.

A quick look at Boston’s voting results shows the one vote in the precinct was for Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. For the city council it went to Felix Arroyo.

Green blames the foul-up on an outdated state law requiring the city to spend thousands of dollars to keep open a voting machine for a precinct which comprises the Boston Harbor islands, where only five active voters are listed.

“It’s ridiculous,” he said.

FOX25 was unable to reach Rivera. He was the first person to cast a vote in Ward 1, Precinct 15 in five years.

The cost of keeping the precinct open for just the one voter is an estimate $2,000.