Location: Boston Public Library

Time: 5:30pm

It's a good thing that there are millions of books for voters to read while they wait on line at the Boston Public Library. Of course, not everybody has to queue; while there's a quick skate for Ward 5 Precinct 8, the line for Precinct 9 was more than an hour long at 5:45pm, and is probably much worse than that by now.

Location: Ben Franklin Institute

Time: 6pm

I'm not exactly old – this is just the third presidential election that I've covered. But out of all the municipal races and everything else that I've seen in my short time, the current scene off Berkeley Street – of people waiting to vote at the Ben Franklin Institute – is the worst electoral nightmare that I've ever witnessed.

Location: The Massachusetts State House

Time: 3pm

How sweet it is to vote on Beacon Hill. Sure – the State House is the only polling place I know of (and please correct me if I'm wrong) where you have to pass through a metal detector, but I have to say, it's kind of worth it. First of all, there's plenty of green space for chilling outside beforehand, and for contemplating your choices with a breathtaking view of Boston Harbor.

Location: Nazzaro Community Center

Time: 2:45pm

When it comes to voting, this is the place to be seen, with long lines but efficient workers who appear to be getting the job done. At its worst – before, during, and right after rush hour – there was a two-hour wait here. But even then the queue was mostly indoors, kept cuddly by a carpeted hallway with bathroom facilities and other amenities not seen elsewhere.

Location: Davis Square

Time: 12:30pm

This is the infamous precinct that everyone is talking about – on Twitter and Facebook, at least, and in coffee shops around Davis Square. As reported in short by the likes of Globe writer Maria Sacchetti, who wrote that she waited in line for two hours, it is indeed a mess, and was still that way when I showed up this afternoon.

Location: Cambridge City Hall

Time: Noon

A reporter walks into a virtually empty poll and says, “Hey – has it been this calm all morning?” Six poll workers look at him and collectively sigh, then one goes, “You're kidding honey – right?” I actually wasn't joking, but out of respect for the women there I pretended that I was, and thanked them for their civic commitment.

Location: Trinity Academy

Time: 7:45am

This is my polling place, even though I don't live in Hyde Park anymore. And because I don't live in Hyde Park anymore, I had to fill out a mess of forms, show proof of my new address, and get bounced around to a few people before I could vote. It's no big deal; even though the first few people helping me were unfamiliar with the exact process for “inactive” voters, we eventually got it done, and I'm satisfactorily sure that my ballot will count.