Suzanne Waskiewicz hands out voting stickers as Charles Wuest cast his ballots at Hopkins Academy in Hadley early Tuesday morning.
Suzanne Waskiewicz hands out voting stickers as Charles Wuest cast his ballots at Hopkins Academy in Hadley early Tuesday morning. Credit: GAZETTE STAFF/CAROL LOLLIS

11:40  p.m. UPDATE: Voters support legalized pot, ban on animal confinement; oppose charter school expansion, expanded slots gambling

With two-thirds percent of Massachusetts precincts reporting, voters strongly rejected  authorizing up to 12 new or expanded charter public schools, with 63 percent voting against Question 2. In Hampshire County, early results show even stronger opposition. 

Question 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana cultivation and purchases, enjoyed 53 percent support statewide. It has an identical edge in Hampshire County precincts reporting so far. 

Question 3, which would ban eggs and some other farm products produced by tightly confined animals, appears headed for a clear win, with nearly eight in 10 voters supporting it. Support wasn’t running quite as strong in Hampshire County, but it was still a decisive 72 percent in the “yes” column. 

Question 1, which would clear the way for a new slots parlor, had the support of ony 40 percent of voters statewide. Opposition was even stronger in Hampshire County precincts, where less than 30 percent of voters said yes.  

For detailed town-by-town results as they arrive, see the Elections page at gazettenet.com.  

9 p.m. UPDATE: In Amherst, college students and residents weigh in on school consolidation 

 Outside Immanuel Lutheran Church, where many on-campus UMass students vote, Tom Jamate had a message for voters considering local ballot Question 5.

The measure would advance plans to replace two neighborhood elementary schools with one $67.2 million structure shared by the two student bodies. Supporters say the old structures are badly outdated; opponents say they fear losing neighborhood-based schools.  

“I represent a group of parents and teachers who are encouraging people to vote no on this,” Jamate told voter UMass freshman Andrew Palmer. “It’s billed as a two co-located schools — it’s really a one-school structure.”

The 30-second conversation was enough to convince Palmer, 18, who said he had not previously heard anything about the proposal to construct the building using a Proposition 2 1/ 2 override. Palmer said he was particularly concerned about the planned closure of Wildwood and Fort River schools. The planned co-located schools would house all Amherst students in grades two through six.

In line at the Precinct 3 polling place, Chris Blount, 43, said even though he has two kids in the town’s elementary schools, he still hadn’t made up his mind. He was waiting to read the exact language on the ballot.

“I worry about the size of the classrooms getting too big,” he said. “I want to see exactly how it’s written — then I’ll make a decision.

 

Two groups, Save Amherst’s Small Schools, which Jamate was representing, and Building Opportunity for Learning and Diversity, have both aggressively vied for the support of year-round residents and students alike this election season. 

But two SASS members were the only ones outside the North Pleasant Street Church late Tuesday afternoon., giving them in edge in last-minute convincing of Precinct 3 residents voting at that time.

For information-hungry journalism major Joseph Carstairs, 22, the SASS pitch was good enough. “I’m really for community-based things,” he said of his reasoning. He voted no.

“I had no idea there was a 5 and 6,” he said, referring to the two local questions. “I wish they had more information on it so I could understand what was going on.”

John Jackson said he voted no on Question 5. His two children go to the Smith College Campus School. But for those who choose to educate their kids in public school he said, neighborhood schools — rather than a centrally located one — are the clear winner, he said. “It’s better for the kids and the parents.” 

UMass senior Marisa Duplisea drew on her experience in Hudson’s schools — which include a building that houses grades 8 through 12 and preschool. “I didn’t have any problems with the way our school is,” she said. She voted yes.

She added that older buildings can be a detriment to learning. “It’s a lot more conducive to learning to be in a building that’s a little newer,” Duplisea said.

— Chris Lindahl, Gazette staff writer

7:30 p.m. UPDATE: Public school volunteers stand against charter school expansion

Kris Machnik, 48, a former schoolteacher in Holyoke and Springfield, spent part of her Election Day at her fifth-grade son’s school, Jackson Street Elementary in Northampton.

Machnik was manning a bake sale in the school’s foyer as voters came and went from the gymnasium, which is a polling place for Ward 1 residents.

When asked about her position on Massachusetts ballot Question 2 — which would allow up to 12 new or expanded charter schools in Massachusetts each year —  Machnik said she was vehemently opposed to the measure.

“(Students) shouldn’t have to go to another school to realize what they don’t have,” she said.

Another volunteer, Mary Clark, 54, agreed.

“I feel our public school system is at stake,” she said. “If you really, really wanted really great schools, the state would pay for them. As it is, our schools are underfunded, teachers’ pensions are underfunded, teachers have had to continue to give up things. So adding more quote-unquote competition without adding more money int the system isn’t the way to make things better.”

— Michael Majchrowicz, Gazette staff writer

7:10 p.m UPDATE: College students vote their futures

As most University of Massachusetts Amherst classes let out for the day, students made their way to the polls in Precinct 3.

Mike Hagerty, 22, took his civic duty so seriously that he came straight after a day of back-to-back classes.

“I haven’t eaten all day,” Hagerty said Tuesday evening, saying he wanted to make sure he got to the polls in time.

Casting a vote for Hillary Clinton, he said, was not a hard decision. “Hillary is the only person for the job.” 

Joseph Carstairs, 22, however, preferred libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.

“I’m not a big fan of either of the main choices,” saying that since Johnson is “kind of a nut job” his vote was intended to protest the 2-party system.

As for Question 3, which would require farmers to provide more space for animals, Carstairs joined many other students in supporting the measure.

“I want them to be able to run around if they like before we cut their heads off,” he said.

Students interviewed were confident in their choices, reporting they overwhelmingly voted yes on Question 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana.

“Legal marijuana would do more good for the economy than harm to public safety,” said Rachael Flynn, 21.

Question 1, which would allow for an additional slot parlor in Revere, divided students.

Some, like Keval Kapadia, 21, said more slot parlors would be detrimental to the state.

“It’s not great for the surrounding areas,” he said.

— Amanda Drane, Gazette staff writer

6:15 p.m. UPDATE: A Bernie fan makes a hard choice

Edward Habib wasn’t going to vote. Then he watched the third presidential debate.

The 26-year-old former Bernie Sanders fan registered. On Tuesday, outside the White Brook Middle School polling place, he said he would vote for Sanders’ Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

“Even if I wanted to ignore this and say, ‘whatever happens, happens …’” Habib said, “I just can’t. Ideally, yes, I’d be voting for Bernie today, but politics isn’t about ideals. It’s about compromise.”

Donald Trump wasn’t an option, he said. 

“I think Donald Trump is not qualified, spews hate on an unrecognizable level, and he empowers the people in this country who want us to go back to those ways of white supremacy, patriarchy,” he said.

— Jack Suntrup, Gazette staff writer

5:10 p.m. UPDATE: Steady turnout, deep concerns in Goshen, Cummington and Worthington

Goshen Town Clerk Gina Papineau said voting booths filled up immediately after the polls opened Tuesday morning. There are 731 registered voters in Goshen, 125 of whom voted early.

“For us I think that is very good,” Papineau said, noting that by 11:30 a.m. 287 people had come in to vote.

On her way into the polls, Maryjo Sondrini of Goshen said that she believed that it is important to vote.

“I feel that it is a privilege to vote, not that I really like either of the (presidential) candidates that much,” she said.

Sondrini said that she was hopeful that Question 3, which would ban eggs and some other food from animals kept in small enclosures, would pass.

On Question 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana, she said: “I am up in the air about the pot question. I am concerned about how it would be controlled.”

In Cummington, voting was steady.

“It has been very busy, non-stop.” Cummington Town Clerk Donna Jordan said just after noon.  “As soon as we put the sign up outside, people started coming.”

Jordan said that 80 people took part in early voting in Cummington out of the town’s 743 registered voters.

“People that voted early said that they really loved it,” Jordan said. “They were a little disappointed that they just voted in my office and didn’t get the whole voting set up like today, but they thanked me wholeheartedly for doing it.”

By 1 p.m. 336 Cummington voters had casts their ballots. Jordan said.

“I am estimating that we will get about 600 voters in total,” Jordan said.

After voting in the early afternoon, Gayle Fitzgerald of Cummington said that she she was “hoping for the best.”

“I do get a bolt of fear that goes through me every once in awhile, but I really hope that Hillary wins,” Fitzgerald said.

Worthington Town Clerk Katrin Kaminsky echoed what other clerks in the Hilltowns had been saying.

“It has been great,” she said. “We have already had more than half of our registered voters come in.”

Worthington has 949 voters, 127 of whom voted early. By 2 p.m., 526 people had cast their votes.

“It was busy in the morning and steady up until 10 a.m.,” Kaminsky said. “Now it has leveled off a bit.”

Kaminsky said that even though early voting made more work for town clerks, she thought it was good for the democratic process.

“If early voting encouraged just three more people to vote that wouldn’t have, than I think that it is a great thing,” she said.

While polls were steadily busy, there were no lines to speak of at most of the hilltown polling places. Earleen Gadreault of Worthington said she was glad to get in and out so quickly.

“A big issue for me was question three and the animals,” Gadreault said. “I am totally against the abuse of animals.”

Gadreault did not want to disclose her choice of presidential candidate, but said that she was glad the campaign has ended.

“I’m so sick of all of the sniping and sneering. I wish they would talk about the issues and give that other stuff a rest,” she said. “But it is all in the hands of God now.”

Jim Dodge of Worthington said he was “relieved” to be able to vote today.

“I have waited for this day for months. I am a news junkie, but at this point I have had it, I’m done,” Dodge said.

Dodge said that he was confident that Clinton would win in Massachusetts and said that he was encouraged to hear that in the early afternoon she was leading in many of the battle ground states.

“What I am really concerned about is unifying the country tomorrow.  I have never seen our country go through a grinding election like this,” he said.

Dodge said that he is also concerned about the issue of charter school expansion.

“I voted against that. I think we need to improve our public schools,” he said.

Unlike many other cities and towns, Goshen, Cummington, Chesterfield and Worthington will be counting ballots by hand. Williamsburg is the only hilltown in Hampshire County to use a ballot counting machine.

Town clerks in these towns will be hard at work after the polls close with a team of volunteers to help count the ballots.

“We will probably have votes counted by 11 p.m.,” Papineau said.

— Fran Ryan, Gazette correspondent

3:20 p.m UPDATE: In Granby, youths show support for Trump, Clinton

For the past three presidential elections, Granby Town Clerk Kathy Kelly-Regan said she has opened the polling location an hour early to ease the crunch for voters.

But this Election Day, Kelly-Regan opened at the normal hour of 7 a.m. After the clerk held extended hours for early voting, nearly one-third of the 4662 registered voters in Granby cast their ballots before Tuesday.

“The response on it was very good,” she said of early voting. However, Kelly-Regan said early voting was a lot of work for town officials and was about as costly as running two elections.

The layout at the East Meadow School cafeteria allows 32 people to vote at once. On Election Day, there was a steady flow of voters in and out of booths.

When Dan Hamilton, 20, and Brendt Gordon, 20, voted today at noon, they noticed no signs for Donald Trump.

They decided to come back with Suzanne, 17, and Dylan Gordon, 16, and show support at the school’s entrance. They all wore “Make America Great Again” hats and held campaign signs.

Kate Cameron brought her 7-year-old daughter Eliza with her to the polls and showed her the voting process.

“When you get older, you have to decide which person you want,” Eliza told the child. Both said they supported Hillary Clinton.

Eliza’s early take on participatory democracy: Making a decision is the hard part. Filling in the space on the ballot? No problem.

— Caitlin Ashworth, Gazette staff writer

2:50 p.m. Update: In Northampton, Jill Stein supporter urges a different vote for president. 

Standing across from the World War II Club in Northampton, 26-year-old Jasper Lapienski urged passersby to vote not for Democrat Hillary Clinton, not for Republican Donald Trump but for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. 

Lapienski, who organizes shop local seminars at Serio’s Market and drum and dance events, said neither major party will seriously address such issues as global warming and international conflict. 

It’s time, in Lapienski’s view, for a radical change. 

“All the Stein people get it,” Lapienski said of his one-person campaign on Pleasant Street. “The Clinton people are all like, ‘What are you talking about?’”

— Jeffrey Good, Gazette executive editor 

2:30 p.m. Update: In Easthampton, a lonely Trump supporter

Mark Reardon voted for Donald Trump, even though it wasn’t popular.

“None of my friends would support him — nobody I know,” Reardon, a retired custodian, said outside the White Brook Middle School polling place.

“I didn’t put any signs in my yard because my wife would’ve gotten mad,” he added. 

The twist? Reardon voted for President Barack Obama, in 2008 and 2012.

“I did vote for Obama,” he said. “I figured it was time to see if it would help … I think he came in at a tough time. He did what he could. He didn’t do a horrible job.”

Still, Reardon is worried.

He’s worried about crime.

“Look at Chicago — the amount of killings they have a year,” he said.

He’s worried about terrorism.

“It’s scary,” he said. “You don’t know who’s your enemy. And that’s a tough thing.”

So the two-time Obama backer voted for Trump.

“I’m sick of the way the United States is being run right now,” Reardon said. “I’m thinking a drastic change might be good. I don’t know. I’m fearing for my kids and my grandkid. So I don’t know. Maybe he (Trump) will change it around.”

— Jack Suntrup, Gazette staff writer

12:10 p.m. UPDATE: In Hilltowns, strong turnout, crossed fingers

Officials in Chesterfield and Williamsburg said that voting has been brisk and steady since the polls opened at 7 a.m.

“Everyone is excited about coming out to vote and putting this all behind them,” Williamsburg Town Clerk Brenda Lessard said.

Lessard said that there were 29 people in line at the Town Offices before the polls opened.

“It has been very busy. Right now we have already had 439 voters come in,” she said.  “When there is a lull, we are trying to get the early voting ballots into the machine.”

Lessard said that of the town’s 2,020 voters, 638 voted early.

“I think people really appreciated being able to vote early. Everyone has said that they were happy with it,” Lessard said.

Chris Flory of Williamsburg said that he is pulling for a Hillary Clinton victory in the presidential race.

“I think that this election has been offensive. Trump is a danger. I am worried that my fingers are going to be deformed from keeping them crossed for so many months!” Flory said.

Bethany Quimet of Williamsburg said she was disappointed with both the Democratic and Republican candidates.

“I feel that the two major candidates are not qualified and I voted for Jill Stein. I think that the important issues she talks about, like global warming, and green issues have been neglected in this campaign, Quimet said. “I guess you could call it a protest vote because I think we need better candidates.”

Quimet’s husband Will Quimet said that he voted for Stein as well.

“Other than that, we voted Democratic,” he said. “For sheriff, I think that (Patrick) Cahillane has good credentials there is no doubt about that.”

Naomi Sturtevant said that she had never seen the parking lot at the Davenport Building in Chesterfield so full.

“It is a big day! I really don’t know how it is going to turn out, if the vote gets split that could make a difference,” she said.

Sturtevant said that she is strongly opposed to lifting the cap on charter schools and voted no on question 2.

Sienna Wildfield of Chesterfield said that she is concerned about how the election and the campaign season has affected younger people.

“As a parent of a teen, I am watching how the younger generation is reacting to this election,” Wildfield said. “They can’t even vote yet, but they are very engaged and unsettled and worried about the future.”

Chesterfield Town Clerk Sandy Wickland said that of the town’s 930 voters, 134 took advantage of pre-Election Day early voting.

“This morning has been very brisk and we had 18 people waiting in line before 7 a.m. That is a first!” Wickland reported. “We have already had 190 people come in and that is amazing.”

Sarah Carlstrom of Chesterfield said that she is a Clinton supporter.

“I am glad to finally be able to vote and I am looking forward to having the first woman president,” she said.

Carlstrom said that she hadn’t been involved in campaigning for Clinton but said “I have watched a lot of news coverage and have been doing a lot of praying.”

Wickland said she felt turnout in Chesterfield would be unprecedented.

“I am expecting turn out to be very high,” she said. “Presidential elections are always busy, but to be honest with you, I think this year is going to be even bigger than the last one.”  

— Fran Ryan, Gazette correspondent

9:30 a.m. UPDATE: Early crowds, split opinions on marijuana, charter schools

Just after 7 a.m. at the Hatfield Town Hall, Barbara Spiro, 68, said after casting her ballot that she was fourth in line to vote. She sided with Hillary Clinton, but wasn’t enthusiastic about any options this year.

“I’m glad it’s over with,” she said. “I would’ve liked to have seen better candidates.”

Spiro was among about 30 or 40 voters lined up at the Town Hall to cast their ballots at the start of Election Day.

Colette Haag-Rickert, 51, said she also voted for Clinton, but, like others interviewed, was turned off in general by the election.

“It really devolved to a low level,” she said. “I was disappointed.”

Mike Sucharzewski, 30, of Hatfield, was so disillusioned by the two major party candidates that he cast his vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson. He said he leans Republican because he opposes government intrusion, but said he’s been turned off by the GOP because of what he described as “Democrat-lite” policies.

“I think the two major party candidates are kind of a joke and I just needed to vote to do my duty,” he said. “Maybe voting Johnson will make them think, ‘Where did we lose all the votes?’”

At Jackson Street Elementary School in Northampton, a steady stream of voters headed in to vote at the beginning of the day.

Claire Hill, 65, said it was her first time voting in Massachusetts since moving from Texas. She cast her ballot for Clinton. 

“I’m hopeful she will win,” Hill said. She listed where the two agree: preserving civil rights, and an emphasis on education, civil rights and climate change.

Voters interviewed in Hatfield and Northampton early Tuesday differed on ballot questions.

On Question 2, which would increase the state’s cap on charter schools, Haag-Rickert said she voted in favor.

“Waffled a lot on that one,” she said. “But I was swayed by what I see as the plight of inner-city schools — really suffering and that they need another option. Even though I am concerned about the loss of money that does follow the kids.”

Spiro, a retired public school teacher, voted “no” on Question 2.

“I was definitely against that,” she said.

Question 4, which would legalize marijuana for recreational use, also drew mixed reviews.

Outside the Jackson Street School polling place in Northampton, mother-daughter duo Risa and Pearl Silverman, Hillary Clinton supporters, voted in favor of Question 4.

“Legislators weren’t taking this on,” Risa Silverman, 52, said. “This is not the way I would practice democracy, through referendum, but there’s no other way this would get legalized. So in terms of our justice system it had to be legalized. It should be regulated like alcohol.”

“I was just in Denver,” she added. “It’ll be OK.”

Haag-Rickert voted “no” on Question 4.

“I feel comfortable with the fact that it’s already legal for medication and it’s already been downgraded to only a civil penalty for tiny amounts,” she said. “I’m concerned the law doesn’t have all the details fleshed out, especially in regard to the driving.”

Sucharzewski voted “yes.”

“I think it’s a person’s right to choose,” he said. “I don’t think the government should have a say on what someone can or cannot do.”

Voters are also being asked to weigh in on Question 3, which would ban the sale of eggs, veal or pork from farms where animals live in cages restricting their ability to stand up, lay down, turn around and stretch their wings. Proponents say it would improve animal welfare. But opponents point to a provision saying out-of-state farms not meeting the high standards couldn’t sell in Massachusetts, potentially raising food prices.

Haag-Rickert worried the law could outlaw small-scale operations where chickens are cooped up at night.

“The way the law was worded it could potentially make those illegal,” Haag-Rickert said. “That law was not well thought out.”

Claire Hill, 65, said outside the Jackson Street School polling place that she voted in favor.

“I really want animals to be protected,” she said.

Sucharzewski voted “no.”

“I don’t think there’s a need to change any of that,” adding that he opposes what he believes are onerous regulations.

Last presidential election, precinct constable Janice Peterman at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst said lines wrapped throughout the building. It was so busy, she said her voice was gone the next day.

“It was so exciting,” she said. “So many first time voters.”

But this election is different. A sign reading “enter here for precinct 10” stood in front of a chain divider to form a line. The chain divider was empty, but the pace of voters was steady.

For the first time, residents were able to cast their ballots early. On Oct. 24 alone, hundreds came out to cast their ballot.

For Hadley, Town Clerk Jessica Spanknebel said early voting has made a huge impact.

Out of 4016 registered voters in Hadley, Spanknebel  said 857 people voted early. About 200 people sent in absentee ballots.

“It was a much bigger turnout than expected,” she said of early voting.

On Election Day, Hopkins Academy in Hadley had voters move quickly and steadily through the process.

Heather Klesch brought her 14-year-old son Robert with her to vote at Hopkins Academy.

Robert said the process was interesting and straight forward. Next presidential election, Robert will be able to vote and said he feels a mix of nervous and excited.

Klesch, who is on the town’s school committee, said one of the most pressing issues of the election is ballot Question 2 which is to raise the cap on charter schools. In October, Klesch and the school committee took a stance against the measure.

Jeremy Hawkins, 23, woke up early before his 9 a.m. shift of work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This is the second presidential election for Hawkins. He said he voted for Question 3 to make sure animals are treated humanely.

Jean and Tanya Gauthier said today is a very important election. The Gauthiers, parents of five, said today’s vote will affect their children’s future.

They voted for Donald Trump and said America needs a “radical change.” The Gauthiers said, with Trump as president, more jobs will be available as well as the resources their children need to one day support a family of their own.

Tom Hannum, a music teacher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, helped his mother Stella fill out her ballot and said she is against Question 4 on the legalization of marijuana.

“She does not want her grandsons to have access to marijuana,” Hannum said.

— Jack Suntrup and Caitlin Ashworth, Gazette staff writers