Our View: It’s The Ballot Questions

Few of the statewide candidates on the Nov. 3 state election ballot bothered to campaign on the Lower Cape. Even so, we’re confident that Gov. Maura Healey, Senator Edward Markey and Rep. William Keating will top the ballot both in local towns and across the state. In more local contested races, we favor Christopher Lambton for First Barnstable District representative and Dan Gessen for Barnstable County Commission. Chatham also has a race between Thomas Clark Jr. and Seth Taylor for Barnstable County charter commission, a position that depends on the outcome of Question A, the establishment of a charter study commission. Either candidate would adequately represent the town, in our view, though we’re not convinced a county charter study is needed at this time.

 With Massachusetts likely remaining solidly blue, the ballot questions, in fact, are where much of the interest lies in this election. 

 Question 1, expanding public records laws to include the legislature and governor, is a no-brainer in our book. It’s ridiculous that both have been excluded from the transparency allowed by the law, which we believe is foundational to good government. Question 3, essentially establishing ranked choice voting in state primary elections where party affiliation would be eliminated and the two candidates getting the most votes would run in the general election, would institute a more modern form of elections that is gaining traction in other states and countries. We see it as giving voters more control and favor its approval. 

 We are skeptical of Question 6, which redirects sales taxes from sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses to a natural resources conservation fund. The fund seems a duplication of other programs and there is no explanation for how the estimated $100 million in taxes that would be repurposed would impact other programs. The goal is laudable but this plan needs more work and the question should be defeated at this time. We have the same view on Question 7, which would allow single-family homes on lots with 5,000 square feet or more in residential areas. While generating more housing is a priority, this proposal has not been vetted enough to determine the impact on local towns.

 Question 8 is a ridiculous attempt by an out-of-state organization to override voters’ previous approval of retail sales of cannabis. The proponents’ fear mongering has not been borne out after several years of retail recreational marijuana sales, and local towns would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax funds should the question pass. We favor its defeat.

 We also favor defeat of Question 9, which would repeal elements of the 2024 gun safety law that, among other things, bans ghost guns and devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic weapons. It is not overreach, as proponents of the repeal claim, but a matter of public safety. The tricky thing with this question is that a yes vote keeps the law in place, while a no vote repeals it. We urge a yes vote.

Most importantly, vote. In-person voting continues at local town halls through Friday, Oct. 30. Local polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. Voting takes place at the Brewster Baptist Church in Brewster, at the community center in Chatham, at the senior center in Orleans, and at the community center in Harwich.