Election 2018: Newton Voters' Guide

NEWTON, MA — Tuesday is election day, and Newton voters will get their chance to cast votes in several key races from governor to senator. And as most of you know, alongside the state races, there's a special municipal election with two ballot questions in the Garden city set to decide the future of marijuana retailers here.

A ballot question to authorize the number of recreational marijuana retail stores in the city. The other question would authorize banning recreational marijuana retail stores altogether.

Related Coverage: Newton To Take Up Marijuana Questions

View the Municipal Ballot Questions
View a Sample Special Municipal Ballot

No Massachusetts state government race has been in the national news recently more than the tussle over Elizabeth Warren's U.S. Senate seat, though not necessarily for its competitive nature.

Related Coverage: US Senate Race In MA: Get To Know The Candidates

You can view the complete ballot by entering your address on the Sceretary of State's Website.

Important Information For Voters

The deadline to register to vote in the election was October 17. You can check your voting status on the Secretary of State's Website. You can also use the Website to find your polling place. If you missed the deadline to register to vote, make sure you register for future elections.

The following is a list of polling places for Newton by wards and precincts:

All polling places are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Absentee Ballots
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is noon on the day before the election, according to the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Absentee ballots can be requested from the City Clerk in writing, by either the voter or a family member. Absentee ballots are available to people who will be out of town during the hours the polls are open, have a physical disability preventing them from going to the polling place, or a religious belief.

The easiest way to request an absentee ballot is to fill out a Massachusetts Absentee Ballot Application and return it to the city clerk's office.

RELATED>> Early Voting off to Slow Start in Newton

STATE LEGISLATURE

Democrats now hold large majorities in both houses of the legislature. For information on key races for the 40-member State Senate, which Democrats control 31-7 (there are two vacancies), click here. For information on the main contests for the House of Representatives, where Democrats hold 117 of 160 seats, click here.

BALLOT ISSUES

Voters will be asked to decide Tuesday on three statewide issues: a limit on the number of patients a registered nurse could be required to tend; a measure to preserve recent laws offering the LGBTQ community against discrimination; and creation of a citizens commission to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution allowing regulation of political spending by corporations. Details of all three measures are here.

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff.

Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow her on Twitter (@ReporterJenna) and Instagram (/ReporterJenna).