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It’s Election Day nationwide with the contest between former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, garnering the most attention. A couple of Massachusetts races, a few north of the border and some contentious ballot questions also promise great interest.
Locally, for those who didn’t vote early or by mail-in or absentee ballot, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. After polls close tonight, WHAV listeners will hear CBS News reports on the hour, covering the presidential race and the balance of power in Congress, while, by special arrangement, Associated Press vote counts for president and state race calls, contested local races and the results of the ballot questions appear at WHAV.net.
Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin said Monday morning that he expects record voter turnout, exceeding the almost 3.7 million voters who went to the polls in 2020. Galvin said the presidential race is likely what’s driving so many people to the polls. He warned that if a mail-in voter wants to be sure their ballot gets counted, they can drop it off by Tuesday at a ballot drop box outside a municipal building or at their local election office.
In a non-presidential year, all eyes would be on local candidates for state Senate and House of Representatives, but on the Massachusetts side of the border, there are few contested races. In order of area districts, state Sens. Pavel M. Payano, Barry R. Finegold and Bruce E. Tarr and Reps. Dawne Shand, Andy X. Vargas, Estela Reyes, Adrianne Ramos, Ryan M. Hamilton and Francisco Paulino are all running unopposed for re-election.
There is interest, however, in the contested race for Governor’s Council where Republican Anne Manning-Martin, Democrat Eunice D. Zeigler and independent Jody Elliott all vie to succeed Eileen R. Duff as the District 5 councilor. Democrat Duff is running against Republican Jonathan Edward Ring to succeed Essex South Register of Deeds John L. O’Brien, who endorsed Duff after stepping down for health reasons.
For national representation, U.S. Reps Lori Trahan and Seth Moulton are running unopposed, but incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican John Deaton.
In New Hampshire, there is much attention on the race for governor as, in ballot order, Democrat Joyce Craig, Republican Kelly Ayotte and Libertarian Stephen Villee seek to succeed Gov. Chris Sununu. A local race of interest to Plaistow and Atkinson, N.H., voters is House District 20 where incumbent Reps. Robert Harb, Charles R. Melvin and James Summers face challenges from Democrats Nancy Bishop, Stan G. Duncan and Elizabeth Kosta.
Besides voting for electors for Harris and Trump, voters will see an independent candidate as well as Socialism and Liberation, Libertarian and Green-Rainbow Party candidates for president on ballots.
There are ballot questions in both states. In Massachusetts, voters are asked to answer yes or no to 1) Authorize the State Auditor to Audit the Legislature, 2) remove MCAS Tests as high school graduation requirement, 3) Unionization for transportation network drivers,
4) legalize psychedelic substances and 5) increase minimum wage of tipped employees. In N.H., voters statewide are asked whether they agree with raising the judicial retirement age.
State House News Service covered remarks by Secretary of State William F. Galvin.