WESTFIELD — Though not every legislator has an opponent, voters in Westfield have several choices to make on their Nov. 5 election ballots, or during early voting sessions.
At the top of the ballot is a six-way contest for United States president, featuring major-party candidates Kamala Harris (D-California) and Donald Trump (R-Florida). Other presidential candidates on Massachusetts ballots are Shiva Ayyadurai (independent), Claudia de la Cruz (Socialism and Liberation), Chase Oliver (Libertarian) and Jill Stein (Green-Rainbow).
Both federal legislators on local ballots have opponents. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) is facing a challenge from cryptocurrency lawyer John Deaton (R-Swansea). U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) is being challenged by independent candidate Nadia Milleron of Sheffield. The senator will serve a six-year term and the representative will serve a two-year term.
For state senator, there is only one candidate on the ballot, incumbent John Velis (D-Westfield). For state representative, the district that includes most of Westfield has a contested race, with state Rep. Kelly Pease (R-Westfield) facing Bridget Matthews-Kane (D-Westfield), a current city councilor. In a district that includes portions of two precincts in eastern Westfield, state Rep. Michael Finn (D-West Springfield) is unopposed. State legislators serve two-year terms.
Governor’s Councilor Tara Jacobs (D-North Adams), whose district covers most of Western Massachusetts, is unopposed in seeking a second two-year term.
Westfield is in Hampden County, where Register of Deeds Cheryl Coakley-Rivera (D-Springfield) has a challenger, independent candidate Bob Collamore of Springfield. Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile (D-East Longmeadow) is unopposed. These county officials serve six-year terms.
Ballot questions
There are five referendum questions on all ballots statewide. A yes vote on Question 1 would give the state auditor the authority to audit the state Legislature. A yes vote on Question 2 would eliminate the requirement that students pass the MCAS test to graduate from high school. A yes vote on Question 3 would allow rideshare and app delivery drivers to unionize and bargain collectively. A yes vote on Question 4 would legalize the possession, use and cultivation of limited quantities of natural psychedelic substances. A yes vote on Question 5 would require tipped workers to be paid the full minimum wage, plus tips. Any of these questions that attains a majority “yes” vote, statewide, would become law unless later amended by the state Legislature.
In most of Westfield — in the House district currently represented by Pease — voters will also be asked to weigh in on an advisory question. A yes vote on Question 6 would request the local representative to vote in favor of a government-run, single-payer health insurance system in Massachusetts.
Polling places
On Election Day, Nov. 5, polls will be open in every city and town from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling places in Westfield are:
- Ward 1: Precinct A at Southampton Road Elementary School, 330 Southampton Rd.; Precinct B at Westfield High School, 177 Montgomery Rd.
- Ward 2: Both precincts at Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble St.
- Ward 3: Precinct A at Franklin Avenue Elementary School, 22 Franklin Ave. Precinct B at Westfield Technical Academy, Lower Campus, 33 Smith Ave.
- Ward 4: Precinct A at Second Congregational Church, 487 Western Ave. Precinct B at Highland Elementary School, 34 Western Ave.
- Ward 5: Both precincts at Munger Hill Elementary School, 33 Mallard Lane.
- Ward 6: Both precincts at Paper Mill Elementary School, 148 Paper Mill Rd.
Westfield voters who are not sure which ward and precinct is theirs can enter their address at www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema to find their polling place. Voters from any community can enter their information at www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch to confirm that they are registered to vote.
Early voting for all precincts in Westfield is on the second floor of City Hall, 59 Court St., daily through Nov. 1. Voting times are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.
(This article was edited Oct. 27, 2024, to clarify that the health care system envisioned by Question 6 would feature universal government-run insurance, not government-run care.)
