Voters hit the polls as Election Day approaches

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters in Middleboro and Lakeville have already begun to decide on statewide and local races. These races for governor, U.S. senator and representative, state senator and representative, local elections and nine ballot questions during early voting, which runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. Here’s what you need to know before Election Day if you haven’t voted already.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. If you enter the line to vote before 8 p.m., stay in line, as you will still be able to cast your ballot.

The ballot is longer than normal due to there being nine ballot questions. There are three pages across two sheets of paper — one double-sided, one single-sided. Voters must return both sheets when submitting their ballots.

Residents will be voting in major statewide elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey faces a challenge from Republican candidate and lawyer John Deaton. 

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll each seek a second term. They are running against a Republican ticket of former healthcare executive Mike Minogue for governor and New Bedford City Councilor Shawn Oliver for lieutenant governor. Oliver has suspended his campaign following an OUI arrest on Oct. 17, and Minogue has said that if he is elected, Oliver will not serve as his lieutenant governor.

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Andrea Campbell of Dartmouth faces Republican candidate Michael C. Walsh of Lynnfield.

Democratic U.S. Representative Bill Keating of Bourne will run against Republican former Mattapoisett Select Board member Tyler Macallister.

Incumbent Republican state Representative John Gaskey of Carver will face Democratic Carver Select Board Member Sarah Hewins for the Second Plymouth District seat.

Republican State Senator Kelly Dooner will not face a challenger.

There will be nine questions on the ballot this year. Each question will have a small summary of what the question is asking. The last time there was this long a ballot was around the 1970s. 

Residents can bring a paper with their plans, which is provided in the Red Book mailed to all Massachusetts residents. If that has already been thrown out, residents can bring a cheat sheet or their phones into the voting booth.

Wareham Week has provided a summary of what each ballot question covers and what a “yes” or “no” vote means on each. For a more detailed summary, visit sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/information-for-voters/archive/IFV_2026%20English.pdf. 

1. Public Records: The first question is asking whether to make changes to the law surrounding public records. Voting yes will make records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public. Certain documents would be exempt, including development of public policy and communications between legislators and constituents. Voting no would make no difference to the current law. 

2. Collective Bargaining: The second asks if voters approve of a law surrounding the Committee for Public Counsel Services. A yes vote would allow the Committee to form a union to collectively bargain with an employer, execute a collective bargaining agreement and request necessary appropriation. Voting no would make no change to the current laws. 

3. Primary Election Changes: This question asks if voters approve of having political party primaries for state elections. Voting yes would get rid of political party-based primaries, meaning all the candidates would appear on the primary ballot and the top two candidates would appear on the November ballot. This would also mean governor and lieutenant governor would run and be listed together and would provide political party status to candidates who receive 3% of the vote in the state primary. Voting no would make no changes to how voting works. 

4. Registering to vote: This question would change how people register to vote. A yes vote would allow eligible individuals to register to vote on the day of an election by signing a written oath and providing proof of residency. Without proof of residency, a person can cast a provisional vote, which would only be counted if they can prove residency within two days of a primary or six days of a state election. Residents would still not be able to change party affiliation the day of. This would go into effect on Jan. 1.  A no vote would make no changes to how voting works. 

5. State revenue: This question would change how much revenue the state can collect in a year. A yes vote would tie the limit to the prior year collections plus average wage and salary growth. Any excess collections would be refunded to the taxpayers the next year. This would also include revenue from surtaxes on incomes over $1 million. This would go into effect on July 1, 2027. A no vote would make no change to state taxes. 

6. Nature for All Fund: This question would create a Nature for All Fund, which would be funded from 50% of state sales taxes on sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses in their first year. After July of 2028 the fund would receive 100% of these sales taxes. This would exclude revenue from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority State and Local Contribution Fund and the School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs could use this money for natural resource conservation. This fund could receive donations. Surplus funds from this could not be transferred, but public entities involved in conservation could receive funds. A 15-member Nature for All Board would be created, hired by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, who would create annual reports on the funds. A no vote would not create this and keep sales taxes on these goods as they are. 

7. Increasing housing: This question would lower the amount of land required for single-family houses in residentially zoned areas with access to public sewer and water to 5,000 square feet. The land would need 50 feet bordering the street or public way. The Zoning Board could reasonably regulate other aspects like height, distance from neighbors, open space, parking and renting. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities could give guidance on regulations to the law. A no would make no changes to current zoning laws. 

8. Marijuana sales: This question would reverse previous votes legalizing marijuana. It would change the amount marijuana a person over 21 could possess to one ounce or less, including five grams of concentrate. Possession of marijuana over this amount would impose a civil penalty of $100 and require forfeiting the marijuana, and for those under 21 would impose the fine and forfeit as well as completion of a drug awareness program, community service and notification to legal guardians. Current dispensaries would operate on an expedited basis to become medical dispensaries and sell the rest to medical dispensaries. A no vote would keep dispensaries and current marijuana laws. 

9. Gun laws: This question would implement changes to current gun laws. A court can order the surrender of firearms when school administrators or licensed healthcare providers are concerned about the person carrying a firearm or during a Harassment Prevention Order. The firearm licensing requirements would change to allow local licensing authorities to request prior license and permit information and petitions for involuntary mental health commitments and require someone to be 21 to own semiautomatic rifles or shotguns. It would allow incarceration of up to six months for failing to report the loss or theft of a firearm. The definition of machine guns would include bump stocks, trigger cranks and Glock switches. It would determine what an assault style weapon is and the conditions in which a person can keep the ones they own. It would prohibit carrying firearms in government buildings, polling locations and schools, with some exceptions. A no vote would not just not pass these changes, but also repeal aspects of the current law that were passed in 2024. Currently, there are penalties for possessing, creating or transferring ghost guns and require all guns besides antiques and relics to have serial numbers. Local licensing authorities have to transfer firearm dealer inspection to the police, and require the licensing authorities to attend statewide training. Dealers need to confiscate expired or suspended licences and report them. 

There are three polling locations in Wareham. Voters in Precincts 1 and 6 will vote at Wareham Town Hall, 54 Marion Road. Voters in Precincts 4 and 5 will vote at Redman Hall, 745 Main St. Voters in Precincts 2 and 3 will vote at Ethel E. Hammond School, 13 Highland Ave. 

You can find your polling locationhere. You can also look for your precinct online usingthis map.

The deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts is Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. You can register online athttps://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/. To check your voter registration status, go tosec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx. 

Voting can also be done with a mail-in ballot. Mail ballots can be requested up until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.  Voters are encouraged to request ballots as soon as possible if you plan on voting this way. The U.S. Postal Service says it could take up to seven days for ballots to be delivered. 

You can apply to vote by mail using this link: sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/languages/vote-by-mail-applications.htm. 

To return your ballot, you can mail it in the provided envelope or drop it off in person at your election office, early voting locations or a drop box outside of Town Hall.

You cannot bring mail-in ballots to a polling place on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Voters do not need to bring ID, but it will make the check-in process easier if they do bring a form of ID. Call the Clerks Office with questions or for more information at (508) 291-3140.