Elections

Town Council Looking for Ways to Make Early Voting Work More Smoothly

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Early voting was a hit in Watertown during the Presidential Election, but the influx of people sometimes overwhelmed the staff of the Clerk’s office. The Town Council began looking for ways for it to work better next time. There were 5,855 early votes cast, with another 796 and 86 e-voters – military service men and women and others who qualify, Town Clerk John Flynn told the Town Council’s State, Federal and Regional Government Committee Tuesday night. That made up 36 percent of the votes cast. That well exceeded the number Flynn expected to see.

Elections

Election 2016: Issues with Early Voting, How Question 5 Appeared on Ballot

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The Nov. 8 election drew a huge number of Watertown voters, but there were issues with the presidential election that also featured the Community Preservation Act ballot question. Early voting proved popular with residents, and about 7,000 voters casted their ballots before election day. After filling out their voters would fold their ballots and put them in an envelope and handed it back to the staff at the Town Clerk’s office. The envelopes went to the precinct where the voter lives, and were put through the machine.

Community Preservation Act

LETTER: The Election is Over, Losers Should Accept Results Nationally and Locally

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To the editor,

On November 8, 2013 the 50 States and District of Columbia held elections for President of the United States. The results are in and at last count as many as 306 electors were won by Donald Trump.For the benefit of those who forgot their High School Civics, Article 2 of the Constitution makes it clear, the Sovereign State Elect the President. The State Legislatures are empowered to select Electors in whatever manner they see fit. There is no requirement that popular vote be held. In fact it was process where States slowly started adopting a popular vote.

Elections

LETTER: Rough and Tumble Campaign Over, Now it’s Time to Work Together

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To the editor,

As one of the most vocal opponents of the CPA during the campaign, I’d like to congratulate the proponents on their victory.  

There is no doubt that this campaign was heated.  Often times, hyperbole came from both sides. That’s what happens in a campaign. For those of us who have been involved in politics for years, it’s not surprise, nor do we find anything out of the ordinary. Politics is a blood sport during a campaign.

Elections

Supporters of CPA Win the Second Time Around, See How Your Precinct Voted

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The second time was the charm for proponents of the Community Preservation Act in Watertown, which won with nearly 60 percent of the vote on Tuesday. 

The ballot question will create a fund for projects in three areas: affordable housing, open space and historic preservation. Jennifer Van Campen, one of the leaders of Invest in Watertown, the group that put the CPA on the ballot, said she was confident going into election. “I actually welt that we were going to win all along,” Van Campen said. The confidence came despite the fact Watertown voters rejected the CPA in 2005. Also, there was also an active “No” campaign from the Concerned Watertown Homeowners, who funding mechanism because it would hurt families and residents struggling to afford living in town.

Charter Schools

Watertown Approves CPA, Clinton Gets Most Votes in Watertown

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Watertown voters adopted Question 5, the much debated Community Preservation Act, on Tuesday, with “Yes” receiving nearly 60 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s Presidential Election, which saw heavy voter turnout. Question 5 received 10,258 Yes votes and 6,896 No votes in the election where 75 percent of Watertown votes cast a ballot. In the presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received the most votes – 12,924 (71 percent) – and Republican Donald Trump got 3,921 (21 percent). Libertarian Gary Johnson received 625 votes (3 percent), Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein got 320 (2 percent), and there were 405 write-in votes (2 percent). In the state ballot questions, Watertown voted 5,258 for Question 1 (30 percent), the measure asking to add slots at a horse race track, and 12,237 against (70 percent).

Elections

Watertown Voter Guide: The CPA, Presidential Race & State Ballot Questions

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After months of campaigning, the 2016 Presidential election is nearly here, plus Watertown voters have state and local ballot questions to consider on Tuesday, Nov. 8. 

Polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, and remain open until 8 p.m. Then the ballots are taken to Town Hall and precinct results could come as early as 8:30 p.m., but in the past the last precincts have not been finalized until around 10 p.m.

On election night, go to Watertownmanews.com for full results, and follow the results as the come in on the Watertown News Twitter page – https://twitter.com/WatertownMANews

See your ballot and voting location by clicking here and filling out the form. Candidates
On the top of the ballot is the candidates for president. Along with the two major party candidates – Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump – are Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein. There are five other offices up for election this year in town, but little has been heard about these races because they are uncontested.

Elections

LETTER: Pro CPA Group Gives Examples of How CPA Used in Other Towns

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Vote YES on 5 for Community Preservation Act (CPA) It Benefits Us ALL. More money is there for us right now:

All our neighboring communities are already in: Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge, Newton. Boston strongly supports a Yes on 5 this year as well – see YesBetterBoston.com. They have all made, and will continue to make, significant and creative improvements with their CPA funds. Our contributions will continue going to other towns if we vote no.