Voter turn out 56 percent in Watertown

Tuesday's state election drew 12,011 Watertown voters, which equals 56 percent of the registered voters in town, according to the unofficial election results released by the Watertown Town Clerk's office.

Turnout was slightly lower than Town Clerk John Flynn's expectation of 60 percent. That is the typical turnout for a governor's election, he said Tuesday.

Watertown voters solidly supported state Rep. Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham) who won another term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The Waltham Democrat received 74 percent of the vote in the district, which includes all of Waltham and parts of Watertown and Newton. In Watertown, where he represents Precinct 10, Koutoujian received 785 votes, which equaled 70 percent of the vote.

The town's other state representative, Jonathan Hecht, and its state senator, Steven Tolman, ran unopposed in this election.

Congressman Edward Markey won re-election, and he received a high level of support in town. In Watertown the Democrat from Malden received 72 percent of the votes.

In the vote for governor, Watertown residents overwhelmingly supported Deval Patrick. The Democrat, who won reelection, received 7,222 votes, or 61 percent of the vote. Republican Charlie Baker took 32 percent of the votes. Independent Tim Cahill received 6 percent of the votes and Green Party candidate received 1.6 percent.

James DiPaolo received 82 percent of the vote in Watertown in his race for Middlesex Sheriff.

Watertown voters went "No" across the board on the three statewide ballot questions.

On Question 1, to remove the state sales tax on alcohol, town residents voted 59 percent No.

On Question 2, which would repeal the affordable housing law - Chapter 40B, 68 percent of Watertown voters checked No.

Sixty five percent of Watertown voters opposed Question 3, the effort to roll back the state sales tax.

On non-binding Question 4, 67 percent of town voters supported the measure that calls for making health care a human right and creating a single-payer health insurance system.

On Question 5, which called for human rights for everyone in the world, including Palestinians living in Israel, 59 percent of residents voted "No."