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Date: 10/26/2022
AGAWAM — Some voters have started marking their ballots already, as mail-in voting and in-person early voting are underway in advance of the Nov. 8 state election.
The ballot includes statewide contested races for governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor, as well as ballot questions, including a proposal for longer mayoral terms in Agawam.
Candidates for contested Western Massachusetts seats include incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, a Democrat, and challenger Dean Martilli, a Republican from West Springfield, and an open race for governor’s councilor pitting Republican John Comerford against Democrat Tara Jacobs.
The state Senate district that includes Agawam and West Springfield will see a race between incumbent John Velis, a Democrat, and challenger Cecilia Calabrese, a Republican and Agawam city councilor. West Springfield is a new addition to the district after apportionment lines were redrawn this year.
State Rep. Michael Finn, whose district includes all of West Springfield and was redrawn this year to also include Precinct 1 of Agawam, is running for re-election with no opponent. In the rest of Agawam, incumbent state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, a Republican, faces a challenge from Anthony Russo, a Democrat and an Agawam city councilor.
Statewide questions
Voters will also help decide four statewide ballot questions. Question 1 would establish a 4 percent surtax on incomes above $1 million, added to the existing 5 percent income tax. Question 2 would require dental insurers to spend at least 83 percent of premiums on dental care, rather than administrative payments. Question 3 would increase the number of liquor sales licenses a single company can own from nine to 15. Question 4 would confirm (“yes”) or repeal (“no”) the state law allowing residents without legal immigration status to receive driver’s licenses.
Extra questions
Agawam voters have an additional local question on their ballots, to decide whether the town will increase the length of future mayoral terms from two years to four years. The proposal has already passed the City Council and the state Legislature.
Springfield has had a four-year term for its mayor for years, and many other local cities and towns, including Holyoke and West Springfield, have adopted the longer term in recent years. Like Agawam, Chicopee and Westfield have stuck so far with two-year terms.
If approved by voters, the change would take effect after the 2023 town election.
Voters in the House district currently represented by Finn — including all of West Springfield and Precinct 1 of Agawam — will also weigh in on a question asking if they support Massachusetts adopting a “single-payer” medical care system. Unlike the other ballot questions, this one does not carry the force of law, and only serves as an advisory to the district’s representative.
When to vote
In-person early voting began Oct. 22 and will continue until Nov. 4. Early voting for residents of all precincts of Agawam and Feeding Hills is at the Senior Center, 954 Main St., Agawam. Remaining voting times are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 27 and 28; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 29; and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4.
Applications are also being accepted for voting by mail. Unlike past years, voters no longer need to use absentee voting, which requires them to give a medical, religious or travel-based reason they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, to vote by mail. Applications are being taken until 5 p.m. on Nov. 1, and ballots can be mailed or dropped off at the town clerk’s office up until Nov. 8.
On Nov. 8, the usual polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are seven polling places serving the town’s eight precincts: Robinson Park School, 65 Begley St., Agawam (Precinct 1); Granger School, 31 S. Westfield St., Feeding Hills (Precinct 2); Agawam High School, 760 Cooper St., Agawam (Precinct 3); Doering School, 68 Main St., Agawam (Precinct 4); Phelps School, 689 Main St., Agawam (Precinct 5); Clark School, 65 Oxford St., Agawam (precincts 6 and 8); and Agawam Junior High School, 1305 Springfield St., Feeding Hills (Precinct 7).