We urge everybody who did not take advantage of this year’s early voting period to put at the top of their “to do” list for Tuesday: go to the polls, which are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Click here for information about where to vote.
Voters have choices to make in many contested races, as well as statewide and local ballot questions. Nationally, of course, attention is focused on the presidential campaign between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. In Massachusetts, candidates Gary Johnson (Libertarian) and Jill Stein (Green-Rainbow) also are on the ballot.
Hampshire County voters will elect a new sheriff to succeed Robert Garvey who has held the office since 1984 and is not seeking re-election. The candidates are Democrat Patrick Cahillane and Republican David Isakson.
Generating interest across Massachusetts are four statewide questions. Question 1 deals with an additional slot-machine parlor, Question 2 would raise the cap on charter schools, Question 3 sets standards for confinement of some farm animals, and Question 4 would legalize recreational marijuana.
Three towns in Hampshire County have local ballot initiatives on financial issues, all of which are Question 5. Amherst voters will decide on a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override for a school project. In Hatfield, the debt-exclusion override would pay for Town Hall repairs. And South Hadley will consider for a third time whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act.
Here is a summary of the Gazette’s position on contested races and questions for which we have made endorsements.
Hillary Clinton is our enthusiastic choice.
During her 18-month campaign, Clinton has offered specific initiatives on many issues, including increased access to health care, debt-free college education, climate change, increasing taxes for the wealthiest and appointing Supreme Court justices who are likely to reduce the influence of big money in politics, safeguard the right to safe and legal abortion and defend the fundamental right to free speech.
Having someone like Richard Neal representing much of western Massachusetts in Congress makes sense, and he gets our endorsement. Neal faces a challenge from Frederick Mayock and Thomas Simmons.
Project VoteSmart describes Neal, based on his votes, as generally supporting pro-choice, gun-control measures, federal regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions and money to develop renewable energy, while opposing construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, all sensible positions that we also support.
Our choice is Adam Hinds who talks easily about a wide range of issues as he campaigns in the 52-community Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden District. Hinds demonstrates a depth of knowledge on the issues that his Republican opponent, Christine Canning, does not.
The ballot measure would allow for the creation or expansion of up to 12 charter schools each year in Massachusetts. While that growth is theoretically possible anywhere, Question 2 is crafted to ensure new charter growth would occur largely in the most troubled districts.
For that reason, we urge voters to throw their neighbors an educational lifeline by voting yes on Question 2. Charters provide a viable way to narrow the gap created by a system in which children who live in one zip code have fewer opportunities than ones who live in another.
Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to cast a meaningful vote against animal cruelty by voting for Question 3, which would set standards regulating confinement of laying hens, breeding sows and veal calves.
Recreational use of marijuana by adults should be legal in Massachusetts, but the flawed Question 4 on Tuesday’s ballot is not the best way to achieve that goal. We recommend a no vote, and urge the Legislature to craft a better law in its upcoming session.
It is past time to replace two outdated elementary schools in Amherst, and with state money approved, we urge residents to vote yes Tuesday on Question 5, a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override. That is the next step to move the $67.2 million school building project forward.