Election Day 2016: Here's what you need to know before voting
Voters will be deciding more than the next president when they head to polls on November 8. Before you step in the booth, here's what you need to know about uncontested incumbent Christopher Markey's plans for his next run as state representative, how the ballot questions break down, and when and where to go on Election Day.
Candidates:
Voters have four choices for the 2016 presidential and vice presidential candidates: Democrats Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine; Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence; Libertarians Gary Johnson and William Weld; and on the Green-Rainbow ticket, Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka.
Locally, Democrat Christopher Markey currently represents the Ninth Bristol District for the state, and with no competition, Markey is already thinking about local and statewide projects.
The Dartmouth resident said he is focused on keeping the Padanaram Causeway construction hiccup-free. The project most recently faced a setback due to an improper foundation on Smith Neck Road.
Markey also wants to find a permanent solution for the Cecil Smith Landfill site. In October, the Dartmouth Conservation Commission won a four-year legal battle to block a Boston-based company from using contaminated soil to cap the landfill on Old Fall River Road.
Markey said he is exploring the possibility of establishing a trust fund to subsidize the cost of landfill capping projects, similar to how funds from the state’s gas tax are used to help pay for the removal of old gas tanks at gas stations.
As the chairperson of the House Committee on Ethics, he also plans to help municipal employees better understand the state’s conflict of interest laws. He is also working with a task force to introduce reform to the criminal justice system. A press release announcing the formation of the task force listed policy goals including reducing reoffender rates, lowering costs and investing in re-entry programs.
Voters will also decide who to send to the Capitol, with five contenders vying to represent the Ninth District in the House of Representatives. This district includes all of Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties, as well as portions of Bristol and Plymouth counties.
William Keating, the Democratic incumbent, is running to keep his seat. On his campaign website, he lists creating jobs by supporting small businesses and increasing educational opportunities, strengthening the middle class, improving security, helping the senior population and veterans and protecting the environment as some of his legislative priorities.
Keating’s Republican challenger is Mark Alliegro, a marine biologist and molecular biology professor at Brown University. On his campaign website, he outlined several policy areas he’d tackle, such as repealing and replacing Obamacare, reducing government spending, lowering taxes, protecting the 2nd Amendment and securing the country's borders.
Also in the running are two unenrolled candidates — Christopher Cataldo and Anna Grace Raduc — and United Independent Paul Harrington.
Incumbent Councilor Joseph Ferreira is running unopposed. Mark Montigny is unopposed for his current seat as state senator representing the Second Bristol and Plymouth districts.
Incumbent Thomas Hodgson is running unopposed for Bristol County Sheriff, and incumbents Paul Kitchen and John Mitchell are running unopposed for two county commissioner seats. Incumbent Thomas Quinn III is unopposed for Bristol County District Attorney.
Ballot questions:
Voters will face four ballot questions on Election Day. Question 1 stems from developer Eugene McCain's desire to open a second gambling parlor in Revere near the Suffolk Downs horse race track. The state currently has only one license for a slots parlor, which allows for electronic gambling. A "yes" on Question 1 would give the Massachusetts Gaming Commission the right to issue a second slots parlor license, but the question specifically states the parlor has to be on a minimum of four acres and within 1,500 feet of a horseracing track.
Question 2 looks to expand charter schools in the state. Currently, there are 78 charter schools in Massachusetts, and for each one, students are selected by lottery. A "yes" vote would allow the state to increase its limit on charter schools by 12 each year, or allow charter schools to expand enrollment. A “no” vote would keep the state’s cap on charter schools at 120. Dartmouth's school committee unanimously opposed charter schools, saying that the town's location between New Bedford and Fall River makes it ideal to serve the two cities, and that $133,000 left the district last year after 11 students entered charter schools.
Question 3 addresses the living conditions of farm animals. A “yes” on this question would prohibit a farmer or “operator” from confining a pig, calf raised for veal, or egg-laying hen in such a way that it cannot lay down, stand up, fully extend its limbs, or easily turn around. Farmers would have until 2022 to get rid of restrictive enclosures. Additionally, the law would prohibit business owners from selling eggs, veal or pork if they originated from such an environment. A $1,000 penalty for each violation accompanies this law.
A “yes,” on Question 4 would legalize recreational marijuana use for those who are at least 21 years old. The measure would allow those of age to grow up to six marijuana plants per person in their residences with a total of 12 plants for two or more residents. Additionally, those ages 21 or older could possess up to one ounce of marijuana outside their home, up to 10 ounces inside their home, and give someone 21 or older a maximum of one ounce without compensation. With a “yes” vote, municipalities can also decide whether or not to permit the sale of marijuana to be consumed onsite at commercial establishments. A state commission would also be formed to regulate the industry.
Where to vote:
Polling sites will open on November 8, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Voting locations are divided into 9 different precincts based on census information.
- Precinct 1: Dartmouth Bible Church, 52 Morton Avenue.
- Precinct 2: Smith Mills Church Hall, 11 Anderson Way.
- Precinct 3: Dartmouth Bible Church, 52 Morton Avenue.
- Precinct 4: The Cedars, 628 Old Westport Road.
- Precinct 5: Town Hall, 400 Slocum Road.
- Precinct 6: Senior Citizen Center, 628 Dartmouth Street.
- Precinct 7: DYAA - Crapo Field, 225 Russells Mills Road.
- Precinct 8: Southworth Library 732 Dartmouth Street.
- Precinct 9: Fire District No. 2 Engine House, 1100 Russells Mills Road.
For more information about elections, contact the Dartmouth Town Clerk’s Office at (508) 910-1800.