See everything on the ballot for Worcester voters on Tuesday

WORCESTER – Federal and state elections will be held across the country on Tuesday, Nov. 5, where voters across Massachusetts will decide five ballot questions.

Voters in Worcester may cast their ballot in the following state elections (names appear as they appear on the ballot).

The

indicates the candidate is an incumbent up for re-election. Please note that in state elections the entire district is transferred to the city of Worcester. Each voter only votes in one of these races. To find your precinct and polling place anywhere in Massachusetts, visit

Massachusetts Secretary of State website.

Federal elections

• President and Vice President
• Ayyadurai and Ellis (Independent)
• De La Cruz and Garcia (Socialism and Liberation)
• Harris and Walz (Democrats)
• Oliver and Ter Maat (libertarian)
• Stone and Caballero-Roca (Green Rainbow Party)

Trump and Vance (Republicans)

• Senator in Congress
• Elizabeth Ann Warren* (Democrat)

John Deaton (Republican)

Representative in Congress

• Second district
• James P. McGovern* (Democrat)

Cornelius Shea (Independent)

State elections

• Board of Governors
• Paul M. Depalo* (Democrat)

Andrew J. Couture (Republican)

Senator in court

• First Worcester District

Robyn K. Kennedy* (Democrat)

• Second Worcester District

Michael O. Moore* (Democrat)

• Worcester and Hampshire District
• Peter J. Durant* (Republican)

Sheila H. Dibb (Democrat)

representative before the court

• 13th Worcester District

John J. Mahoney* (Democrat)

• 14th Worcester District

James J. O'Day* (Democrat)

• 15. Worcester District (Democratic)

Mary S. Keefe* (Democrat)

• 16th Worcester District

Daniel M. Donahue* (Democrat)

• 17th Worcester District

David Henry Argosky LaBoeuf* (Democrat)

Court Clerk

Dennis P. McManus* (Democrat)

Register of deeds

Kathryn A. Toomey* (Democrat)

Questions about voting (Note: Summaries aboutBallot

)

Question 1 – Authorization of the State Auditor to examine the Court's initiative

• Question 1 would add a new section to state law authorizing the state auditor to audit the accounts, programs, activities, functions of all departments, offices, commissions, institutions, and activities of the state legislature and any agency or district created by the state legislature. The State Auditor and State Audit Department staff would also have access to accounts, books, documents, receipts, and other records related to the scope of the audit. Tax returns would be excluded from access by state auditors.
• A “yes” vote supports the express authority of the State Auditor to audit the accounts, programs, activities, and functions of all departments, offices, commissions, institutions, and activities of the State Legislature and any agency or district created by the State Legislature.

A “no” vote rejects the State Auditor's express authority to audit the accounts, programs, activities, and functions of all departments, offices, commissions, institutions, and activities of the State Legislature and any agency or district created by the State Legislature.

Question 2 – Repeal the competency assessment requirement for the high school graduation initiative

• Question 2 would remove the requirement that students meet a certain level of proficiency on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam in order to graduate from high school. The initiative would require students to participate in the assessment program without reaching a specific level of competency and meet any local or regional graduation requirements.
• A “yes” vote supports removing the requirement that students meet a certain level of proficiency on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam in order to graduate from high school.

A “no” vote rejects removing the requirement that students meet a certain level of proficiency on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam in order to graduate from high school. Question 3 –

Union organizing and collective bargaining for the “Transportation Network Drivers” initiative.

Question 3 would give transportation network drivers the right to form unions for collective bargaining with transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft. The transport association companies would be allowed to form cross-company associations to represent the companies in negotiations with driver associations. The initiative would require the state to monitor negotiations between the parties and approve negotiated recommendations on wages, benefits and working conditions.(1)

The initiative would also create a hearing process for the Massachusetts Employment Relations Board to handle allegations of unfair labor practices against transportation network companies. The board would have the power to award damages to injured parties where unfair labor practices have been committed. Companies would have the right to appeal the board's decision to the state appeals court.

• The bill would authorize a driver organization to be the exclusive bargaining representative for all drivers after collecting signatures from at least 25% of active drivers. The initiative would define active drivers as drivers who have completed more than the average number of trips in the past six months. The board would determine whether the drivers' organization has collected the required number of signatures. In this case, the designated driver organization would have the exclusive right to represent drivers in negotiations with companies and to collect voluntary membership fees. Any collective bargaining agreement would have to be approved by at least a majority of drivers who completed at least 100 trips in the previous quarter and the Secretary of Labor. The agreement would be valid for the following three years.
  • A “yes” vote supports:
  • providing unionization and collective bargaining for transportation network drivers;
  • the obligation of the state to monitor the negotiations between the parties and to approve the negotiated recommendations on wages, benefits and working conditions; And
• Collective agreements must be approved by at least a majority of drivers who completed at least 100 trips in the previous quarter.

A “no” vote rejects the introduction of unionization and collective bargaining for transit drivers. Question 4 –

• Initiative to legalize and regulate psychedelic substances
  • A “yes” vote supports this initiative to:
  • Establishes a Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission and Advisory Board to regulate the licensing of psychedelic substances and services, including the administration of psychedelics
  • Substances to persons 21 years of age or older under licensed supervision;
  • Allow persons 21 years of age or older to cultivate, possess, and consume a personal quantity of psychedelic substances;
  • impose a 15% excise tax on the sale of psychedelic substances in licensed administrative facilities and
• Authorize municipalities to impose an additional tax of up to 2% on psychedelic substances and regulate the time, place, and manner of operations of natural psychedelic substance licensees.

A “no” vote rejects this initiative, which allows regulated access to certain psychedelic substances and permits the personal use of limited amounts of psychedelic substances by persons 21 years of age and older. Question 5 –

“Minimum wage for tipped employees” initiative.

• Question 5 would gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers on the following schedule:
• 64% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2025;
• 73% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2026;
• 82% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2027;
• 91% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2028; And

100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029.

Employees who were tipped would be paid the federal minimum wage in addition to tips received.

• As of January 2024, the minimum wage for tipped employees in Massachusetts was $6.75 in addition to tips, and the minimum wage for non-tipped employees was $15.00.
• A “yes” vote supports a gradual increase in tipped workers’ wages until it reaches the state minimum wage in 2029 and continues to allow tipped wages in addition to the minimum wage.

A “no” vote rejects a gradual increase in tipped workers’ pay until it reaches the state minimum wage in 2029.

Polling stations in the city of Worcester To find out which polling station you can vote at, visit the