Waltham Bucks Trends: Voter Turnout Increases in 2015 Election

Last week, former Boston City Council President Lawrence S. DiCara, Northeastern University instructor James Sutherland, and Samuel True Adams, service specialist at Minuteman Health, delved into Boston’s voter turnout dating back to the election of 1985 in a recent article for Commonwealth Magazine.

The article detailed a number breakdown that representing a growing voter apathy in Massachusetts, particularly in municipal elections. The three surmised that this year would be no different.

According to the history of Waltham, the city has kept a steadier percentage of voters compared to other municipalities, even increasing slightly. In this election, Waltham increased its turnout by more than 10 percent.

Here’s a breakdown of Waltham’s turnout in municipal elections:

• 2009: 7,146 of 35,316 registered voters, representing 20.23 percent
• 2011: 7,719 of 35,076 registered voters, representing 22 percent
• 2013: 7,631 of 34,039 registered voters, 22.41 percent
• 2015: 11,121 of 31,410 registered voters, 35 percent

To compare, in Beverley’s election, 6,668 of 26,039 registered voters voted for 25.61 percent. In Marlborough, 4,388 of 20,809 registered voters turned out, marking 21.09 percent of voters.

Did you vote? How do you feel about the outcome?

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