Swift says election should continue

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff, 9/11/2001

he 9th Congressional District special primary went off yesterday despite Secretary of State William F. Galvin's attempt to suspend voting in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York in Washington.

Earlier this afternoon, Galvin was poised to ask the Supreme Judicial Court to suspend voting after hearing reports that at least two polling places in Boston had been closed, but acting Governor Jane M. Swift and Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly said the voting should continue.

After speaking to Swift and Reilly, Galvin abandoned his effort.

''I can't do it without their consent,'' said Galvin, who said he was concerned about fairness to voters who were unable to vote or traumatized by the spectacle in New York.

At a press conference from the state's emergency bunker in Framingham, Swift argued strongly that shutting down the polls would send the wrong message.

''The best thing the citizens of our good country and great commonwealth can do today is to send a very strong message: We will not bend to terror,'' Swift said.

The 9th district special primary is being held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. Joseph Moakley.

This story ran on page A6 of the Boston Globe on 9/11/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.