Dorothy Byrd thought of her mom and grandmother when she voted Tuesday at Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury. They opened the door for her to turn out to be concerned politically, however she mentioned she wish to see extra girls be lively in politics at this time.
Her mom and grandmother had been among the many first girls to vote in Centerville, Ga., a small city within the central portion of the southern state, mentioned Byrd, who has lived in Boston for 51 years.
“It’s about time for Massachusetts to change,” Byrd mentioned about Democrat Maura Healey being the gubernatorial favourite to succeed Charlie Baker. Healey can be the state’s first girl governor since Republican Jane Swift, who served between 2001 and 2003.
“The good old boys have been there long enough,” Byrd mentioned, “and I mean no disrespect, but it’s time for women to move us forward. We have a female vice president (Kamala Harris), so why not a female governor?”
A gentle stream of voters of all ages got here to Yawkey Boys & Girls Club, and the polling location close to Roxbury’s Nubian Square additionally obtained many absentee ballots, warden Mia Webster mentioned round 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The state’s 4 poll questions — the Millionaire’s Tax, dental insurance coverage spending insurance policies, alcoholic beverage licenses, and entry to driver’s licenses for unlawful immigrants — generated important curiosity amongst many citizens.
“Folks want to have their voice heard,” Webster mentioned.
After casting his vote on the Boys & Girls Club, David Lopes, a trainer at Charlestown High School, mentioned he positioned his give attention to all 4 statewide questions, however particularly, Question 2 on the regulation of dental insurance coverage charges.
Lopes mentioned he receives medical and dental insurance coverage via town college district, and whereas he known as his medical plan “good,” it’s so much tougher to seek out an equally good dental plan. Question 2 would change that, he mentioned, since firms can be required to spend not less than 83% of premiums on member dental bills and high quality enhancements.
“From what I understand, that’s part of the reason why it’s on the ballot: to be a little bit more equitable for people,” Lopes mentioned. “It would make my life easier in terms of acquiring appropriate dental care and paying for what I think is fair.”
West Roxbury residents Tim Daniel and his spouse visited their neighborhood’s department of the Boston Police Department to forged their votes, a step they mentioned is important to the Democratic means of the nation.
Though they vote yearly, Daniel mentioned Question 1 particularly motivated them to vote Tuesday. It would impose an extra 4% tax on those that have an earnings over $1 million to be funded on training and transportation.
“Massachusetts has a lot of wealth, and it’s concentrated in particular areas,” Daniel mentioned. “It’s long past time we see (more funding) for roads, bridges and schools.”
Question 3, which goals to extend the variety of licenses a retailer may have for the sale of alcoholic drinks to be consumed off-premises and restrict the variety of liquor licenses a retailer may purchase, West Roxbury resident Ned Eames.
“Alcohol is a big topic and a big issue in our society particularly at this time when our world is so turned upside down for so many of us,” Eames mentioned. “Many of us are grappling with our mental health and other kinds of health issues, and alcohol plays into that.”
Eames is founder and CEO of Tenacity, a Boston-based nonprofit that gives studying and tennis classes to about 5,000 metropolis kids every year. There’s a nationwide significance in electing the fitting candidates who “really have their heart in helping under-resourced urban youth, which is what Tenacity does,” he mentioned.
“A lot is on the line here in the country for youth and under-resourced folks,” Eames mentioned of the midterm elections.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”