Westwood Election Guide: Get Ready to Vote on Nov. 8

Orginally published Nov. 7, 2016.

WESTWOOD, MA—OK Westwood residents, it’s almost time to join the rest of the country to vote not only for our next president, but state senators, representatives in congress, councillors, sheriff, and on four controversial ballot initiatives. Provided, of course, that you didn't take advantage of early voting.

• Here’s everything you need to know about the election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.

First, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here are the polling locations:

• Precinct 1:- Council Aging, 60 Nahatan St.
• Precinct 2: Sheehan School, 549 Pond Street St.
• Precinct 3: Hanlon School, 790 Gay St.
• Precinct 4: Downey School, 250 Downey St.

Click here to find your polling location.

Oct. 19 was the deadline to register to vote or for registered voters to make any changes to their registration.

Click here to check your voter registration status.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is noon on Monday, Nov. 7. According to the Secretary of State's office, an absentee ballot application may be requested by either the voter themselves or a family member of the voter.

• Application Request by voter
• Application Request by family member of voter

Who is running:

President and Vice President

• Trump and Pence
• Clinton and Kaine
• Johnson and Weld
• Stein and Baraka

Representative in Congress, 8th District

• Stephen Lynch (D) (Incumbent)
• William Burke (R)

Councillor, 2nd District

• Robert L. Jubinville (D) (Incumbent)
• Brad Williams (R)

State Senator, Norfolk and Suffolk District

• Michael Rush (D) (Incumbent)

State Representative, 11th Norfolk District

• Paul McMurtry (D) (Incumbent)

Sheriff, Norfolk County

• Michael Bellotti (D) (Incumbent)

Norfolk County Commissioner (Pick Two)

• Francis O'Brien (D) (Incumbent)
• Joseph Shea (D)

The Ballot Questions:

Ballot Question 1: More Slots Licenses

The Question

"Expanding slot machine gaming. A 'yes' vote would allow a second slots parlor to exist in Massachusetts. The 2011 gambling law currently allows for up to three resort casinos and one slots parlor. The slots parlor license is owned by Penn National Gaming, which operates Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville."

The Players

The man behind the ballot push, according to The Boston Globe, is a "secretive" developer who's been buying up property near Suffolk Downs, with hopes to build a luxury hotel and gambling facility there. Opposed is Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo, whose city would be directly impacted. Staying tellingly neutral are other big gaming figures in the state, who would face increased competition should the ballot initiative succeed, the Globe reports. There is also a formalized opposition to the measure from the newly formed Committee for Sustainable and Responsible Economic Development.

Ballot Question 2: More Charter Schools

The Question

The Massachusetts Authorization of Additional Charter Schools and Charter School Expansion Initiative, also known as Question 2, is on the Nov. 8, 2016, ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute.

A "yes" vote supports this proposal to authorize up to 12 new charter schools or enrollment expansions in existing charter schools by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education per year.

A "no" vote opposes this proposal to authorize up to 12 new charter schools or enrollment expansions in existing charter schools.

The Players

The state Democratic Party recently moved to oppose lifting the charter cap, aligning with many of its biggest supporters, including several state teachers' unions, most prominently the Massachusetts Teachers' Association. However, it's not a cut-and-dry, partisan issue. Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, supports lifting the cap and allowing more charter schools in Massachusetts, but so do several Democratic state lawmakers. Great Schools Massachusetts is mounting a million-dollar campaign for a "yes" on the ballot.

Ballot Question 3: More Free-Range Chickens

The Question

The Massachusetts Minimum Size Requirements for Question 3, also known as Question 3, is on the Nov. 8, 2016, ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute. It will be Question 3 on the ballot.

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of prohibiting the sale of eggs, veal or pork of a farm animal "confined in a cruel manner."

A "no" vote is a vote against prohibiting the sale of eggs, veal or pork of a farm animal "confined in a cruel manner."

Question 3 would define "confined in a cruel manner" as "confined so as to prevent a covered animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animal’s limbs, or turning around freely."[1]

Massachusetts' Attorney General would be responsible for enforcing the law. A maximum fine of $1,000 could be levied for each violation.

The Players

Animal welfare advocacy group Citizens for Farm Animal Protection is the coalition supporting the Massachusetts ballot initiative. The egg industry isn't such a fan, saying the requirements fly in the face of logic, not to mention the laws of supply and demand. Find the full story on both sides from The Atlantic here.

Ballot Question 4: More Marijuana

The Question

The Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative.

A "yes" vote supports this proposal to allow the use, cultivation, possession and distribution of recreational marijuana for individuals at least 21 years old.

A "no" vote opposes this proposal to allow the use, cultivation, possession and distribution of recreational marijuana for individuals at least 21 years old.

The Players

Pushing for this initiative is a group called The Massachusetts Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. Aligned against it is a bipartisan group of powerful politicians including the state's governor, Boston's mayor and more members of the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts.

Get results and updates on Westwood Patch.

Alison Bauter contributed to this report.