Elections

Watertown Rep. Lawn Co-Sponsors Bill to Ensure a Safe 2020 Election

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State Rep. John Lawn of Watertown, who represents the 10th Middlesex District. Watertown State Rep. John Lawn is lead co-sponsor for a bill that would call for the state to mail absentee ballots to all voters, would require towns to take safety precautions during early voting and extends the deadline for accepting absentee ballots. The bill, HD.5075, is called “An Act ensuring safe and participatory 2020 state elections in response to COVID-19.” Lawn, who is co-chair of the the Joint Committee on Election Laws, filed the bill with Second Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Michal Moran, of Boston, on Wednesday. In an announcement about the bill from Common Cause Massachusetts, Lawn said:

“COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge to our election administration.

29th Middlesex

Watertown Democrat Jumps into Race for State Representative

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. Longtime Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens announced his candidacy for the 29th Middlesex State House seat representing parts of Cambridge and Watertown.  The primary election will be held on September 1, 2020.   

Owens combines deep experience in his core issues of transportation, climate, and housing with years of dedication to community activism. “I have spent the past 15 years bringing people together to create positive change,” says Owens. “As State Representative, I will work to make Massachusetts a place where we can afford our homes, commute sustainably, reduce our carbon footprint, and raise healthy families.”

With nearly two decades of professional experience as a transportation management consultant, Owens is committed to tackling Massachusetts’ transportation breakdown.  “Our roads are choked,” says Owens. “The MBTA and the commuter rail are not stepping up to the challenge.

Election 2020

Warren Wins Vote in Watertown, Biden Declared Victor in Mass.

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Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren led the vote count for Democrats in Watertown, nearly 600 votes ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, but former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the victor in the statewide vote. A steady stream of voters hit the polls in Watertown for Tuesday’s presidential primary, resulting in a big turnout, but also delaying the release of results. With all 12 precincts reporting Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren had the most votes for Democratic presidential hopefuls, with 3,569 (33.3 percent), Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had 3,030 (28.3 percent), former Vice President Joe Biden had 2,871 (26.8 percent) and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg received 802 votes (7.48 percent). The numbers followed a similar pattern from partial results from Watertown, as of 10:15 p.m.

Across Massachusetts, with 74 percent of precincts reporting, Biden led with 33.5 percent, followed by Sanders’ 27.3 percent, Warren at 20.8 percent and Bloomberg got 11.6 percent. On the Republican side in Watertown, President Donald Trump got 682 votes (83.48 percent) and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld had 113 (13.83 percent).

Election 2020

Super Tuesday: Information About Voting in the Presidential Primary

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Massachusetts will be voting in the Super Tuesday, Presidential Primary on March 3, 2020, and polls will be open in Watertown from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Watertown voters can cast ballots in not just for the two major parties, but also the Green Rainbow Party and the Libertarian Party. See more information below. There are 12 precincts in Watertown, which vote in the following locations:

Precinct 1 – Hellenic Cultural Center, 29 Bigelow Ave.Precinct 2 – Hosmer School – 1 Concord RoadPrecinct 3 – Hellenic Cultural Center, 29 Bigelow Ave.Precinct 4 – Phillips School, 30 Common St.Precinct 5 – Phillips School, 30 Common St.Precinct 6 – Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St.Precinct 7 – Lowell School, 175 Orchard St.Precinct 8 – Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave.Precinct 9 – Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave.Precinct 10 – Watertown Police Station, 552 Main St.Precinct 11 – Cunniff School, 246 Warren St.Precinct 12 – Cunniff School, 246 Warren St. A map of Watertown’s Districts: Peach is A, Red is B, Lime Green is C, Green is D.

Find out where you vote by clicking here and filling out the form. The Ballots

The Democratic ballot has 15 names on it, including the five people officially still in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Election 2020

CANCELLED: Learn About Rank by Choice Voting at Forum in Watertown

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The organizers of this event announced on March 13 that they have cancelled it due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The following information was provided by Progressive Watertown:

In 2020, Massachusetts voters will be voting on a ballot measure to decide whether the state should use rank-by-choice voting. A group supporting the passage of the ballot measure will host a meeting on Sunday, March 15 from 3-5 p.m. in Watertown. Learn about what rank-by-choice voting is and how it works at the forum. The event is hosted by Progressive Watertown.

Elections

Watertown State Rep. Hecht Talks About Leaving His Seat After A Dozen Years

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

Jonathan Hecht has been a popular guy since he announced that he would be stepping down from as State Representative for the 29th Middlesex District at the end of his term. The Watertown resident has represented most of the Town, plus part of Cambridge, since 2009. Last week, he announced publicly his decision not to seek reelection. “People have been very nice. I don’t know whether that means they like job I’ve done or they are glad to see me leaving,” Hecht said.

Elections

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

Registered Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus on Saturday, March 7 in the Hosmer Elementary School Auditorium at 1 p.m. to elect 25 delegates and five alternates to the 2020 Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

This year’s state convention will be held Saturday, May 30 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to vote on candidates for the US Senate ahead of the September primary. “This year’s convention will be a great opportunity to strengthen the party for the 2020 elections. The Watertown caucus is a chance for people who want to get involved in the process to connect with other local activists,” said Watertown Democratic Town Committee Chair Steve Owens. The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by February 15, 2020 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. Voter registration will be available at the caucus.  Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret.