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In Massachusetts, voters are gearing up for the general election on November 5, where they will make crucial decisions regarding the presidency, Congressional representation, and state legislative positions. The outcome will be pivotal as the Democratic Party aims to maintain its supremacy in both federal and state elections within the state.

The Democratic Party boasts a significant presence in Massachusetts, holding a “trifecta” in the state government, with a Democratic governor leading the way alongside strong majorities in both the state Senate and House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Republicans occupy a mere 12% of the seats in the Legislature. Although the Republicans have previously held the governor’s office, there is no gubernatorial election this year.

The presidential race stands out as a focal point this election cycle, featuring Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris competing against former President Donald Trump from the Republican Party for the state’s 11 electoral votes. Massachusetts has historically leaned Democratic, supporting that party in every election since 1960, aside from Ronald Reagan’s victories in 1980 and 1984. Notably, it was the only state to vote for Senator George McGovern over Richard Nixon during the 1972 election.

Current Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is seeking reelection, alongside all nine Democratic incumbents in the U.S. House, all of whom were elected by substantial margins in their previous elections. This year, at least five U.S. House races are expected to go uncontested.

This year’s ballot will also feature several ballot measures that could spark significant interest among voters. Proposals include raising the tipped minimum wage for restaurant employees (Question 5), permitting digital ride-share drivers to unionize (Question 3), and eliminating standardized testing as a graduation requirement (Question 2). Each of these issues has attracted considerable support from both advocates and opponents, and they do not necessarily align neatly along party lines. Notably, Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic Presidential nominee, has endorsed a yes vote on the restaurant wages issue.

Additionally, voters will consider a proposal allowing individuals to cultivate their own psychedelic mushrooms under regulated conditions (Question 4), as well as a measure that would enable the state auditor to audit the state Legislature (Question 1). The latter question arose after a ruling by Massachusetts courts indicated that the auditor did not possess the authority to review legislative expenditures.

The polls in Massachusetts will close at 8 p.m. ET, with initial vote counts expected to be reported swiftly. However, it is common for it to take until after 11 p.m. ET for half of the votes to be counted, with some remaining ballots to be surveyed the following day. Voters who cast mail ballots postmarked by November 5 will have until November 8 for their votes to be counted, which could be particularly significant if the ballot measures end up being closely contested on election night.

When announcing election outcomes, the reporting agency pledges to declare a winner only when it has confirmed that there are no viable paths for trailing candidates to catch up. If results remain uncertain, coverage will continue to monitor significant developments like candidate concessions or victory announcements, clarifying that no winner has been determined yet and providing reasons for the delay.

As Massachusetts approaches the electoral process, here’s an overview of what to anticipate in the upcoming election:

Election Day: November 5.

Poll Closing Time: 8 p.m. ET.

Presidential Electoral Votes: 11 awarded to the winner statewide.

Key Races and Candidates: President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein (Green), among others.

U.S. Senate: Warren (D) vs. John Deaton (R).

Ballot Measures: Question 4 (legalization of psychedelic substances).

Other Notable Races: U.S. House, state Senate, state House, county commissioner, governor’s council, Question 1 (allowing state auditor audits of the Legislature), Question 2 (removing MCAS testing as a graduation requirement), Question 3 (allowing unionization for transportation network drivers), and Question 5 (increasing the tipped employees minimum wage).

Recent Presidential Results: 2020: Biden (D) 66%, Trump (R) 32%, the announcement was made on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET.

Registered Voter Statistics: Registered voters as of August 24, 2024: 5,054,539, with approximately 26% Democrats, 8% Republicans, and 64% unenrolled voters.

Voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election was about 75% of registered voters.

Early Voting Statistics: Votes cast before Election Day in 2020 accounted for about 65% of the total, while early voting in 2022 made up approximately 45% of the total ballot cast. Current statistics for pre-Election Day voting in 2024 are still pending.

Vote Counting Timeline: The first votes were reported on Nov. 3, 2020, at 8:09 p.m. ET, with roughly 72% of the total cast votes reported by midnight ET.

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