Franklin voters: How to return your mail in ballot |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Franklin voters: How to return your mail in ballot
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Other State Officials up for Election on Primary Ballot - Sep 1
COUNCILLOR (Governor’s Council)
The Governor's Council is composed of eight individuals elected from districts, and the Lieutenant Governor who serves ex officio. They provide advice and consent on gubernatorial appointments, pardons and commutations, and warrants for the state treasury.
For more information, go to https://www.mass.gov/orgs/governors-council
- ROBERT L. JUBINVILLE Democrat https://www.votejubinville.com/
There are no candidates for the Republican, Libertarian or Green Rainbow parties
REGISTER OF PROBATE NORFOLK COUNTY
The register of probate administers the probate court, which primarily handles family legal matters (including divorce and child custody cases), and wills and estates. The register of probate provides the court's services and keeps the court's records.
For more information, go to https://www.mass.gov/locations/norfolk-probate-and-family-court
- COLLEEN MARIE BRIERLEY Democrat https://www.facebook.com/Colleen4Probate/
- NOEL T. DiBONA Democrat https://www.facebook.com/Noeldibonaprobate/
- KATHRYN E. HUBLEY Democrat https://kathyhubley.com/
- COURTNEY M. MADDEN Democrat https://courtneymadden.org/
- MICHAEL F. WALSH Democrat https://walshforprobate.com/
There are no candidates for the Republican, Libertarian or Green Rainbow parties
COUNTY TREASURER NORFOLK COUNTY
The County Treasurer is responsible for the collection, custody and management all money belonging to the County government, and disbursement of those funds according to law. The Treasurer is responsible for keeping financial records, including bills, vouchers, and documentation of borrowings and debt, to be accessible for future reference., and annually prepares and publishes a report of the County receipts and expenditures for the preceding fiscal year.
The Treasurer also acts as Chairman of the County Retirement Board.
The County Treasurer is an elected official serving a six-year term.
For more information, go to https://www.norfolkcounty.org/county-administration/treasurer
- MICHAEL G. BELLOTTI Democrat https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Government-Official/Mike-Bellotti-for-Norfolk-County-Treasurer-125523504157200/
- BRAD L. CROALL Democrat https://www.bradcroall.com/
There are no candidates for the Republican, Libertarian or Green Rainbow parties
COUNTY COMMISSIONER NORFOLK COUNTY
The Norfolk County Commissioners' Office is charged with implementing policy, budget and other decisions of the elected board of Commissioners. The office's duties include personnel, purchasing, management information systems, and general administration. For more information, go to https://www.norfolkcounty.org/county-administration/commissioners-office
- JOSEPH P. SHEA Democrat https://www.facebook.com/SheaforNorfolk/
- DENNIS J. GUILFOYLE Democrat https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Political-Candidate/Dennis-Guilfoyle-for-Norfolk-County-Commissioner-109258227331366/
- CHARLES B. RYAN Democrat https://www.votecharlieryan.com/
- RICHARD R. STAITI Democrat http://www.votestaiticommissioner.com/
There are no candidates for the Republican, Libertarian or Green Rainbow parties
SHERIFF (VACANCY) NORFOLK COUNTY
The Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office serves the citizens of Norfolk County and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by enhancing public safety through the operation of a safe, secure, and humane correctional facility that establishes structure and accountability for offenders and focuses on re-entry programs and community based programs that promote crime prevention, citizen awareness, education, youth development, elderly assistance and law enforcement support.
For more information, go to https://www.norfolksheriff.com/
- JAMES F. COUGHLIN Democrat https://coughlin2020.com/
- PATRICK W. McDERMOTT Democrat https://www.patrickmcdermott.org/
- WILLIAM J. PHELAN Democrat https://www.phelanforsheriff.com/
- JERRY P. McDERMOTT Republican https://www.sheriffjerrymcdermott.com/
There are no candidates for the Libertarian or Green Rainbow parties
Other State Officials up for Election on Primary Ballot - Sep 1 |
Voices of Franklin: Colin Cass on voting in the Primary Election
Voting in primary elections is very important, yet voter turnout in primaries is usually low. (Embarrassingly so: in 2016 the Franklin primary turnout was only 4.1 % of the eligible voters.) But even conscientious voters probably think, “The real show is the general election. I’ll vote then. I know who I like. What’s the difference?”
One difference is that who you can vote for in the general election is not settled until the primary has occurred. If the people you like have primary challengers, of course, they must defeat the challengers to get on the general ballot. So they will need your help in both elections, not just the general.
And even if the ones you really like have no primary challengers, you may still be wise to vote in the primary. Remember, your favorites will not be alone on the general ballot. Many offices must be filled. Say you are a straight-ticket, one-party voter. You do not want to find yourself obliged to vote for people you dislike just because, on a thin plurality, they squeaked by the primary that you skipped.
And since primary turnouts are low, a few votes can make an outsized difference. Impact per voter is greatly magnified. And naturally, the bigger the field, the more crucial every primary vote is. There are nine contestants in the Fourth Congressional District, for example, for the one place for a Democratic candidate on the general ballot. If voter support were divided equally among the nine and turnout were at 2016 levels, then each candidate would have about 97 supporters in Franklin. In such a race, every primary vote really counts, and could decide who goes to Washington.
The primary is September 1. You can vote in person, vote early, or apply by August 26 to vote by mail.
Colin Cass
146 Longhill Road
Franklin, MA 02038
If you have interest in "Voices of Franklin" please read the guidelines here https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html
Friday, August 14, 2020
"a clear admission that the president is attempting to restrict voting rights"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump also claimed anew — falsely — that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and predicted without providing evidence that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Polls indicate Trump is in for a tough reelection fight against Democrat Joe Biden.
The Republican president said on Fox Business Network that among the big sticking points for a new congressional virus relief package were the Democrats’ demands for billions of dollars to assist states in protecting the election and to help postal workers process mail-in ballots.
“They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said on “Mornings with Maria,” adding, “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200813/trump-opposes-postal-money-that-would-help-vote-by-mail?rssfeed=true
Editorial note: There is a work around for this attack on our democratic process. Apply for a mail-in ballot, when it arrives, rather than mailing it back, use the drive through drop off box at the Municipal Building to deliver it safely to the Town Clerk. Of course, if you choose to vote in person either with 'early voting' or on September 1 for the Primary, and November 3 for the election, that is also good.
"a clear admission that the president is attempting to restrict voting rights" |
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
US House Candidates - September 1 Primary
US House Candidates
Our primary is September
1, but you can vote by mail now, take advantage of Early Voting beginning on
August 22, or vote in person on September 1. You also have until August 22 to
register to vote in this primary.
Remember – if you are enrolled
in a party you MUST vote in that party’s primary, but if you are unenrolled you
may choose which ballot you want.
Of particular note is
the race to represent us in the US House of Representatives. There are NINE candidates on the Democratic primary
ballot and TWO on the Republican Ballot.
There are no Libertarian or Green Party candidates.
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS - FOURTH DISTRICT
JAKE AUCHINCLOSS
Democrat https://www.jakeforma.com/
DAVID FRANKLIN CAVELL
Democrat https://www.davecavell.com/
BECKY GROSSMAN
Democrat https://beckygrossman.com/
JULIE A. HALL Republican http://hallforcongress.com/
ALAN A. KHAZEI Democrat https://alankhazei.com/
IHSSANE LECKEY Democrat https://ihssane.org/
NATALIA LINOS Democrat https://www.nataliaforcongress.com/
JESSE R. MERMELL Democrat https://jessemermell.com/
DAVID ROSA Republican https://www.davidrosaforcongress.com/
BENJAMIN R. SIGEL
Democrat https://bensigelforcongress.com/
CHRISTOPHER Z. ZANNETOS Democrat https://www.chriszforma.com/
US House Candidates - September 1 Primary |
2020 Election Collection
Voices of Franklin: Alan Earls - questions diversity of election = https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/voices-of-franklin-alan-r-earls-most.html
General Election - November 3
Primary - Sep 1, 2020
2020 Election Collection |