Vineyarders flocked to the polls Tuesday to take part in the November midterm elections.
Voters weighed in on the governor’s race, Massachusetts’ representatives in Washington, D.C., and 10 ballots questions on varying issues. All six towns backed Gov. Maura Healey over Republican challenger Mike Minogue, as well as incumbents Ed Markey and Bill Keating.
The Associated Press had already called the governor, senate and house race in favor of the sitting Democrats, but other races on the ballot, including the nine statewide ballot questions, were still too close to call early in the evening.
There were several uncontested races at Tuesday’s election. State Sen. Julian Cyr, state Rep. Thomas Moakley and district attorney Robert Galibois all ran unopposed. There were also more open seats than candidates in the Martha’s Vineyard Commission race.
Island town clerks reported strong early voting numbers and there was a steady stream of voters headed to the polls Tuesday.
All 10 voting booths were filled and there was a line out the door of the West Tisbury public safety building at 8:30 a.m.
“It’s more like a presidential election than a midterm one,” said West Tisbury town clerk Tara Whiting-Wells.
Ms. Whiting-Wells knew it would be a busy day based on the mood of the country, she said. Preparations began during early voting, which saw about 25 per cent of the Island’s 17,000 registered voters participate.
“We had over 700 ballots by mail, and over 200 early voters in two weeks,” the West Tisbury clerk said.
Ms. Whiting-Wells also knew that voters would need some extra time to read through the 10 ballot questions this cycle. Ordinarily, voters stand to fill out their ballots but on this election day a chair was provided at each booth.
“I wanted everyone to be able to take their time reading through the questions,” she said.
Voters were indeed doing that, heads bent over their ballots, black markers in hand, while those in line read over their ballots once again, or shared good mornings with neighbors.
“People are enthusiastic to vote, which is great,” Ms. Whiting-Wells said.
The polls at Edgartown town hall were also busy.
“We’re very happy people are voting,” said Karen Medieros, the Edgartown town clerk. “We want lots to come in and we’ve already had almost 1,200 early voters. So that was pretty much record-breaking for us.”
In Oak Bluffs, the morning voters coming out of the polls at the town hall voiced their feelings on the races and ballot questions.
“I have to admit, I voted all Democrat,” said voter Stephanie Michalczyk. “If you listen to the news, you know why.”
Susan Burgoyne said she felt ousting Republican leaders would be good for the economy. She suggested Gov. Maura Healey represented the kind of change she’d like to see at the federal level.
“I voted for Healey because I love her,” she said.
Many brought up the future of legal marijuana sales as a ballot issue that concerned them. Question 8 asked voters if they were in favor of repealing the law that allowed adult use marijuana stores.
Lois Adams said that, in addition to wanting to see the state maintain its firearms legislation and pool tax revenue from outdoor recreation for a natural resources fund, she wants to see purveyors of marijuana products retain access to their livelihood.
“I definitely didn’t want to see the marijuana law changed at all,” she said. “I felt that would be difficult after people have invested so much money, built businesses…. Anything that takes away their ability to make a living, I don’t want to have anything to do with.”
Others questioned the purpose of rolling back legislation that has been in place for years.
“Why make it illegal again?” said Keith Dodge. “No point in that.”
All six Island towns voted against the marijuana repeal question by a wide margin.
At the Oak Bluffs polls, Janet Anthony-Hathaway said she never received her state voter guide, and she reported that many of her friends experienced the same issue. They banded together to help each other understand the ballot questions.
“That kind of struck me a little odd, only because it is important,” she said of not receiving a guide.
Several voters said that understanding the ballot and voting was their civic duty. Among them was Ms. Adams, who voted for the first time at 18, the same year 18-year-olds became eligible to vote.
“This is the most significant year I can ever remember in terms of voting…” Ms. Adams said. “I have always voted, and I will always vote until the day they put me over there in Oak Grove.”
At the Chilmark Community Center, voters arrived in a slow but steady stream. Many said they came to the polls because they believe in the importance of exercising their civic duty.
“I believe in this country, even if we’re in a rough patch right now,” said voter Annie Rudner as she was exiting the building. “I’m an American, and Americans vote.”
Question 9, which asked voters if they wanted to keep the existing gun control laws, specifically stuck out to Ms. Rudner. She voted yes to keeping the regulations the same.
“We have a gun problem in this country, but we also have a mental health problem,” she said.
All of the Island towns backed keeping the existing rules.
During the day in Edgartown, staff for The Trustees of Reservations held signs along Main street in support of question 6, which the conservation nonprofit helped spearhead.
“Clean air, clean water, access to nature – these are really fundamental to our humanity and ensuring that we have appropriate resources dedicated to protecting nature in Massachusetts and on Martha’s Vineyard is, in my mind, instrumental to our health and well-being,” said Darci Schofield, Islands Director for the Trustees. “No matter where you come from or what political party you represent or your place of origin, we rely on just these fundamentals of clean air and clean water.”
Each of the Vineyard towns were in favor of the question.
Pride in civic duty was also evident among voters and poll workers Tuesday.
There were 30 volunteers in Chilmark helping with the counts, which is more than there usually are at local elections.
“There are always more in the presidential elections and midterms because there are so many ballots….This is an A-team,” said Chilmark clerk Jennifer Christy.
Ms. Whiting-Wells in West Tisbury had spread the word that a lot of help would be needed to help count all the write-in ballots. In addition to longtime volunteers there were some first-timers, such as Richard Backer who has had a home on the Island since 1985 but moved here full time last year and was eager to help out.
“It’s been very busy all day, an exceptionally high turnout,” he said.
The voters all took their time processing all the ballot questions, he added, “and that was wonderful to see.”
In Edgartown, the last voter of the evening had the wrong eyeglasses, but was able to read the ballot with the help of constable Scott Ellis’s spectacles.
Mr. Ellis has manned the polling station in town hall for years, helping residents put their ballots in the town’s electronic counters.
“I love doing my civic duty, being part of the community and helping people vote,” said Mr. Ellis. “I guess that’s why I keep doing it.”
Lily Echeverria, Bill Eville, Emma Kilbride, Louisa Hufstader and Charles Leitner contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: this article was updated at 1 a.m. with results from all six towns.
