VOTER GUIDE: Votes for President, Senate & 5 Ballot Measures on Tuesday’s Ballot

Watertown voters have plenty to races and ballot measures on which they can cast their votes during Tuesday’s State Election. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. See polling locations at the bottom of the story

The Presidential race has been on the top of many voters’ lists and there are not just two, but six choices, listed with their parties below in the order on the ballot.

AYYADURAI and ELLIS (Independent)
DE LA CRUZ and GARCIA (Socialism and Liberation)
HARRIS and WALZ (Democratic)
OLIVER and TER MAAT (Libertarian)
STEIN and CABALLE (Green-Rainbow Party)
TRUMP and VANCE (Republican)

There is also a contested race for U.S. Senator – Elizabeth Warren (Democratic) and John Deaton (Republican).

Races for Congress, State Senator, State Representative, Governor’s Councilor (listed as Councillor), and Middlesex Clerk of Courts are uncontested. There is a contested race for Middlesex Southern District Register of Deeds, between Maria Curtatone (Democratic) and William “Billy” Tauro (Republican).

Voters will also be deciding five state ballot questions during the Nov. 5 election. There is also a sixth non-binding one on the ballot. The ballot measures are listed with the description that appears on the ballot.

Question 1 – This proposed law would specify that the State Auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature.

Question 2 – This proposed law would eliminate the requirement that a student pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests (or other statewide or district-wide assessments) in mathematics, science and technology, and English in order to receive a high school diploma. Instead, in order for a student to receive a high school diploma, the proposed law would require the student to complete coursework certified by the student’s district as demonstrating mastery of the competencies contained in the state academic standards in mathematics, science and technology, and English, as well as any additional areas determined by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Instead, in order for a student to receive a high school diploma, the proposed law would require the student to complete coursework certified by the student’s district as demonstrating mastery of the competencies contained in the state academic standards in mathematics, science and technology, and English, as well as any additional areas determined by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Question 3 (partial) – The proposed law would provide Transportation Network Drivers (“Drivers”) with the right to form unions (“Driver Organizations”) to collectively bargain with Transportation Network Companies (“Companies”)-which are companies that use a digital network to connect riders to drivers for pre-arranged transportation-to create negotiated recommendations concerning wages, benefits and terms and conditions of work. Drivers would not be required to engage in any union activities. Companies would be allowed to form multi-Company associations to represent them when negotiating with Driver Organizations. The state would supervise the labor activities permitted by the proposed law and would have responsibility for approving or disapproving the negotiated recommendations.

Question 4 (partial) – This proposed law would allow persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances. The psychedelic substances allowed would be two substances found in mushrooms (psilocybin and psilocyn) and three substances found in plants (dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and ibogaine). These substances could be purchased at an approved location for use under the supervision of a licensed facilitator. This proposed law would otherwise prohibit any retail sale of natural psychedelic substances. This proposed law would also provide for the regulation and taxation of these psychedelic substances

Question 5 – This proposed law would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker, over the course of five years, on the following schedule:

To 64% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2025;

To 73% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2026;

To 82% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2027;

To 91% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2028; and

To 100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029

The proposed law would require employers to continue to pay tipped workers the difference between the state minimum wage and the total amount a tipped worker receives in hourly wages plus tips through the end of 2028. The proposed law would also permit employers to calculate this difference over the entire weekly or bi-weekly payroll period. The requirement to pay this difference would cease when the required hourly wage for tipped workers would become 100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029.

Under the proposed law, if an employer pays its workers an hourly wage that is at least the state minimum wage, the employer would be permitted to administer a “tip pool” that combines all the tips given by customers to tipped workers and distributes them among all the workers, including non-tipped workers.

Question 6 (non-binding) – Shall the Representative for this District be instructed to vote for legislation to create a single-payer system of universal health care that provides all Massachusetts residents with comprehensive health care coverage including the freedom to choose doctors and other health care professionals, facilities, and services and eliminates the role of insurance companies in health care by creating an insurance trust fund that is publicly administered?

See full descriptions of the ballot measures here.

If you have any questions concerning the Election or where to go to vote, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 617-715-8686 or visit the Election and Voter Information page.

To confirm your precinct location, please go to the Secretary of State’s Where Do I Vote webpage.

See the Precinct map (PDF)

2024 State Election Voting Locations