Five questions, along with a 2nd Congressional District contest and races for governor and U.S. Senate, will be on the ballot Tuesday as voters head to the polls.
With nearly 52,000 registered voters in the county — an increase of nearly 7 percent from four years ago, although the voting-age population has remained static — a good turnout is expected by area clerks as polls are set to open from 7 a.m. statewide.
“The last two (midterm) elections, we’ve had about 52 percent, and I’m expecting it will be slightly higher,” said Montague Town Clerk Debra Bourbeau, considering an uptick in voter registration and absentee ballot requests. “Early voting is going quite well, and people seem to be motivated. I think it’s the ballot questions and the climate of our country.”
While the election may be overshadowed by elections around the country that may have important effect on national politics in the years ahead, the biggest draw for Franklin County voters may be ballot questions on limiting hospital nurse-patient ratios, studying limits to election spending and corporate rights, as well as keeping gender-identity protections in place as part of the state’s anti-discrimination law.
A referendum question — in all but Gill, Erving, Warwick, Wendell, New Salem and Orange — would call for legislators to help create a single-payer health-care system in the state. And in Northfield, there will be a ballot question to consider authorizing the Community Preservation Act to be implemented there.
“I expect a good, consistent day at the polls for turnout, because there are lots of ballot questions,” said Greenfield Town Clerk Kathryn Scott. “Both sides are very passionate and doing a lot of outreach, which should cause voters to show up.”
A race in the 2nd Congressional District between 11-term Democrat James McGovern of Worcester and Republican political newcomer Travy Lovvorn of Grafton will be on the ballot in 14 Franklin County towns, including Greenfield, Montague and Deerfield, while in the 1st Congregational District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Richard Neal of Springfield is running unopposed.
Topping the ballot is a three-way race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Elizabeth Warren, with opposition from Republican Geoff Diehl and Independent Shiva Ayyadurai, as well as a gubernatorial race in which Republican incumbent Charlie Baker is challenged by Democrat Jay Gonzalez.
Incumbent 2nd Franklin District state Rep. Susannah Whipps, an Athol Independent, is the only area legislator being contested — she faces a challenge from Democrat John Arena of Gill.
There are races, as well, for state attorney general, with incumbent Democrat Maura Healey being challenged by Republican James R. MacMahon III; for secretary of state, Democratic incumbent William F. Galvin is challenged by Republican Anthony Amore and Green-Rainbow candidate Juan Sanchez; treasurer, with incumbent Deborah Goldberg in a three-way race with Republican Keiko Orrall and Green-Rainbow candidate Jamie Guerin; and a four-way race for state auditor, with incumbent Democrat Suzanne Bump challenged by Republican Helen Brady, Libertarian Daniel Fishman and Green-Rainbow candidate Edward Stamas.
There is also a contest for Governors Council, with incumbent Democrat Mary Hurley of Springfield facing a challenge from Mike Franko of Holyoke.
Running unopposed in Franklin County are Democrat Natalie Blais of Sunderland for the 1st Franklin House District and Paul Mark of Peru for the 2nd Berkshire House District, along with Joanne Comerford of Northampton for the Hampshire Franklin and Worcester Senate District and Adam Hinds in the Berkshire Hampshire Franklin Hampden Senate District.
Also unopposed in seeking re-election are Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan of Easthampton, Clerk of Courts Susan Emond of Bernardston and Register of Deeds Scott Cote of Greenfield.