UPDATE: Norton Votes 'Yes' For Special Election Override

After all the meetings, information sessions, rallies and debates over the $34M building and track and bleacher projects, the “yes” voters came out in full force, passing both override questions at Saturday’s Special Election.

 Despite the rainy weather, 4,474 of Norton’s 11,615 registered voters cast their ballot with an unofficial count of 3,138 “yes” votes to 1,329 “no” votes for question one, the high school addition and renovation project, which will receive a 64.42 percent reimbursement from Massachusetts School Building Authority, and 3,164 “yes” votes and 1,300 “no” votes for question two, that would repair the high school track and allow for the purchase of new bleachers. There were seven blank votes for question one and 10 for question two. All five precincts voted in favor of both projects.

 “It’s been a steady flow all day,” said poll worker Rosemary Dolan at the high school an hour before voting came to a close. “At 8 o’clock (in the morning) there was a line out the door.”

 The scene was similar at this morning, according to Danielle Sicard, the Town Clerk. “There was a line of about 50 people,” she said.

The average cost per household for the school and track projects will be $131.76 per year until it is paid off. 

 The ballot machine at Precinct 2 was having issues, delaying the results about 45 minutes, but that didn’t stop voters from lingering around the Yelle School gym, waiting for the results. Members of PRIDE of NHS, the school committee, high school students and Board of Selectmen waited in anticipation.

 PRIDE of NHS chairwoman Sheri Cohen, who was outside with her “yes” sign since 7:30 a.m. was almost brought to tears when she heard the results.

 “It is overwhelming. I am so extremely proud of my town,” she said.

 Cohen said that a couple of people with “no” signs were also outside for a short time.

 After Precinct 1’s votes were counted, that machine was used to count Precinct 2 votes. Unofficial results were announced by Sicard at approximately 7:30 p.m.