WORCESTER—With an eye on record-breaking voter turnout, Worcester is poised for a high-energy election day as voters across the city make their voices heard in one of the most closely watched presidential contests in recent memory.
In 2020, Worcester saw an unprecedented 65% of its 111,318 registered voters head to the polls, a remarkable turnout only rivaled once since 2004, when George W. Bush and John Kerry faced off.
Officials are optimistic about another strong showing in 2024. By Election Day, 19,184 residents had cast their ballots early by mail, and 8,093 voted early in person, according to Deputy City Clerk Clare Robbins. Robbins notes that while early turnout in 2020 was partly driven by pandemic-related voting options, strong early voting figures this year suggest high enthusiasm nonetheless.
“As you can imagine, the record high in 2020 was partially a result of COVID and the influx of vote by mail,” Robbins told the Worcester Guardian. “We will see how tomorrow shapes up, but we expect that many folks are waiting to vote in person on Election Day.”
Worcester’s high level of voter participation comes amid predictions of record turnouts nationwide. With major policy questions and strong opinions on the ballot, Worcester residents appear ready to join the national conversation in numbers that could exceed previous elections.
For those still planning to vote in person, city officials remind residents to check polling locations and expect possible lines.
Presidential Race
- Democratic: Kamala Harris (vice president) and Tim Walz (governor of Minnesota)
- Republican: Donald Trump (former president) and JD Vance (Ohio senator)
- Independent: Shiva Ayyadurai and Crystal Ellis
- Socialism and Liberation Party: Claudia de la Cruz and Karina Garcia
- Libertarian Party: Oliver Chase and Michael ter Maat
- Green Party: Jill Stein and Gloria Caballero-Roca
U.S. Senate
- Incumbent Elizabeth Warren faces Republican John Deaton, a Bolton resident
U.S. House of Representatives
- James McGovern (D, Worcester) seeks his 15th term, opposed by Cornelius Shea (independent).
- Richard Neal (D, Springfield) represents parts of Worcester County and is challenged by Nadia Donya Milleron (independent).
Massachusetts Senate
Key races include:
- Ryan Fattman (R, Sutton) vs. Anthony Allard (D, Monson)
- Rebecca Rausch (D, Needham) vs. Dashe Videira (R, Franklin)
- Peter Durant (R, Spencer) vs. Sheila Dibb (D, Rutland)
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Contested races:
- Kimberly Ferguson (R, Holden) vs. Anthony Ferrante (no party)
- Jonathan Zlotnik (D, Gardner) vs. Bruce Chester (R, Gardner)
- John Marsi (R, Dudley) vs. Jeanne Costello (D, Charlton)
The ballot questions for 2024
- Auditing the Legislature – Decides whether the state auditor can investigate the Legislature
- MCAS Graduation Requirement – Asks if the MCAS test should be removed as a high school graduation requirement
- Unionizing Rideshare Drivers – If passed, would allows rideshare drivers to unionize
- Legalizing Psychedelic Drugs – Proposes legalizing certain psychedelics such as psilocybin for therapeutic use
- Raising Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers – Seeks to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers
Around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Congregation Beth Israel, which encompasses precincts 1-1, 1-4 and 9-5, a light but steady stream of people filed into the polling location. David Rushford, retired Worcester city clerk, has served as the location’s warden for the last three years.
“We’ve had a steady stream all through the three precincts here,” Rushford told the Worcester Guardian. “It’s the only triple location in the city, so we have a big staff, and we have volunteers from Holy Cross College, South High, and Doherty High. It was a really busy morning. It’s going smoothly. The weather helps. But elections are really complicated now. You’ve got absentee ballots, early voting, mail-in voting, and Election Day voting, so it’s like four elections in one cycle. Different rules and timetables apply to each. I don’t envy anyone who has to deal with it.”
As mostly local registered voters filed into the synagogue, a small group of visitors from Sweden and Norway happened upon the election scene. The group is in Worcester to learn from Genesis House about best practices for running a clubhouse for mental health.
“We came here to train with Genesis House, but we wanted to see what the United States elections were like while we are here,” said Romina Yttesen from Norway. “[The voting process] is very much like in Norway. It’s like being home. We hear a lot about the U.S. election in Norway; constantly for the last three months. We feel very much a part of it because it’s important for the world. It’s almost like Norway is having an election, too. It’s not like this with any other country; only the United States.”
At Shaw’s in Webster Square, handling voters from precinct 3, warden Michael Comer reported around 700 voters by 5 p.m. Tuesday, with a long line forming.
“It’s been a steady stream all day,” Comer said.
“We don’t have numbers right now, just that locations are busy and we are expecting a high turnout,” Robbins told the Worcester Guardian around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
View the full specimen ballot here.
Watch the live stream election results from Worcester here.
There are dozens of polling locations in Worcester, ranging from North High School to the Massachusetts Audubon Society to Shaw’s Supermarket, depending on your precinct. Go to the city’s website for a full list of voting locations and addresses.
Editor Charlene Arsenault can be reached at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
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