Fenway first: Ballpark becomes voting venue amid pandemic

Lining up underBostonRed Soxbanners, voters on Saturday gatheredat a storiedballpark for anotherof the nation’spastimes — voting.

City officials were using Fenway Park as an alternative to indoor venues during thepandemic, andmore than100voters had lined up— at socially distanced intervals— before doors opened late Saturday morning.

“This is thefirst timewe’ve everdone early voting oropened up FenwayPark forany kind of voting in the cityofBoston, so we’re really excited to bepartners with the cityon this,”saidRedSox spokesperson Zineb Curran.

FenwayParkwas one of10 locations across Boston where residents could cast votes Saturday, whenearly voting began across the state. Theballpark provided a unique experience compared to othervoting venues across Massachusetts.

With their60-gameseason over, theplayers are long gone. Residentsweren’t allowed in stands then, norwere they allowed in the stands Saturday. Instead, voters formeda line thatbegan on one side of theparkand snaked towardthe other side. Voters got only a quick glimpse of the field afterfilling out theirballots in the concourse and exiting on LansdowneStreet.

The ballpark provided a safer voting venue during the pandemic because it’sboth outdoors and covered, providing protection fromthe elements while also providing plenty of ventilation.

Despiteproviding avoting venue, theRedSox organization stuck tobaseball and staying out of the politics.“We justwant people to exercise their right to cast theirballot,” Curran said.