Nov. 3, 2026 | Kelley Square
Rebecca Patterson takes her Election Day message to Worcester’s Kelley Square, sitting atop the landmark traffic island known affectionately as the “peanut” with a simple reminder for passersby: Get out and vote.
Patterson, who works in the cannabis industry, encouraged residents to participate in the election regardless of their political positions. But her T-shirt made her own preference clear: Vote no on Question 8.
The ballot measure sought to repeal Massachusetts laws allowing the regulated retail sale of recreational marijuana, while preserving the medical marijuana program and allowing limited adult possession.
Massachusetts voters rejected Question 8 on Tuesday, preserving the state’s recreational cannabis marketplace.
Against the backdrop of the Worcester Public Market and Wachusett Brew Yard, Patterson’s Election Day message offered a snapshot of civic engagement in the heart of the city.
About the photographer: Antonio Pastor is a technology business executive who has called Worcester home since 2005. An avid cyclist and photographer, he combines his passions to capture distinctive images of Worcester and the surrounding communities during his daily bike rides.
About the series: “This Is Worcester” is a Worcester Guardian photography series celebrating the people, places and everyday scenes of Central Massachusetts. Readers are invited to submit photographs for consideration to carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org. Please include a brief description, location and photographer credit.
