Campaign 2024 – In-Person Early Voting ends today as Town Clerk’s Office gears up for next Tuesday’s Presidential Election

By Mark E. Vogler

Will Saugus be viewed as a “blue” town after next Tuesday’s election, with a majority of its voters supporting the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, for president? Or will the town go “red” by supporting the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, in his bid to return to the White House?

Eight years ago, Donald Trump was the favorite of Saugus voters, beating Hillary Clinton by 933 votes – 51 percent of the turnout. The Saugus vote, while not typical of the sentiment throughout Massachusetts, resonated loudly across the country as Trump shocked the pollsters – losing in popular votes by close to 3 million to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton while winning the White House by beating Clinton in the Electoral College, 304 to 227.

But Election Day 2020 in Saugus turned out differently for Trump in the last presidential race. He lost his popularity with voters in Saugus and throughout the country. Former Vice President Joe Biden was the favorite of Saugus voters, as he beat Trump by 373 votes – capturing 51 percent of the turnout. On the national front, Biden beat Trump in Electoral College votes, 306 to 232, while winning the popular vote by more than 7 million votes.

Two weeks of In-Person voting at the Saugus Public Library will end today (Friday, Nov. 1). Voting will take place from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the library at 295 Central St. Residents who come to cast their votes should use the Taylor Street entrance. Most town residents will go to the polls to vote for president next Tuesday (Nov. 5) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the 10 precincts.

So, will Saugus voters go blue for the Democrats or red for the Republicans this time? The Saugus Advocate put that question to the chairs of the Saugus Democratic Town Committee and the Saugus Republican Town Committee.

The Democratic Party view

Saugus Democratic Town Committee Chair Joe Malone said he expects Vice President Kamala Harris to carry Saugus as well as the nation. “I’m very confident that Harris will win,” Malone said in an interview this week.

“I think people like her optimistic outlook on life. She always has a smiling face on. I think she’s much better than Hillary or Biden as a candidate. It’s going to be a close election, but…Harris will prevail,” he said.

In Massachusetts’ U.S. Senate race, Malone predicted that incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Warren would win easily over Republican challenger John Deaton. “We may have a problem in the Senate, but we’ll take the House,” Malone said.

As far as the ballot questions, Malone said he expects Question One – which would enable the state auditor to audit the state Legislature – will pass “fairly easily.”

Malone said he believes Question 2 – which would eliminate passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in mathematics, science, technology and English in order to receive a high school diploma – will pass. “I think MCAS is gone. I think the teachers union will prevail on that one,” Malone said.

He also said he thinks Question 4 – which would allow people 21 and older to grow, possess and use certain natural psychedelic substances – may pass also.

The Republican Party view

Saugus Republican Town Committee Chair Chris Luongo predicted that former President Trump would carry Saugus as well as the country. “I do believe Trump will get in,” Luongo said.

“I think the electoral votes will be a landslide and the popular votes will be close,” he said.

“Imagine if World War III starts and we have Kamala as our commander in chief? That would be awful. I pray to God that we take the presidency, the House and the Senate. Right now, it’s so close, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I hope the country turns around. I don’t think we can do another four years [of a Democrat in the White House],” he said.

Luongo said he believes that Trump will carry Saugus. “I think Saugus will go red this time for the presidency,” Luongo said.

“I see a lot of positive feedback around town,” he said.

Luongo is not optimistic about the prospects of Republican Challenger John Deaton beating incumbent Senator Elizabeth Warren. “If it were any other state, John Deaton would win,” he said.

“I’m not optimistic because of the system we’re playing under [in Massachusetts],” he said, referring to a system of government which is dominated by one party (Democrats).

“I don’t believe mailing ballots out to every household. I think this system is messed up,” he said.

“I have no problem with In-Person voting because you have a chain of custody when it comes to the ballots. You don’t have that with the ballots that are mailed out,” he said.

Luongo said he would like to see a system of term limits for elected officials be established in Massachusetts.

As far as the five ballot questions, Luongo said he wonders about Question One and how it reflects on the nature of Massachusetts state government. “Why would that be a question – that the state auditor doesn’t have control over the state Legislation,” he said.

The Ballot Highlights

The two-page official specimen ballot includes:

• A showdown between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump.
• A race for the U.S. Senate, with Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Warren seeking another six-year term over Republican challenger John Deaton.
• Five ballot questions, including several controversial ones. Question 1 if approved would authorize the state auditor to audit the state Legislature. The measure initiated by Diana DiZoglio received no vote from the Senate or House of Representatives.

Question 2, if passed, would eliminate the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in mathematics, science, technology and English in order to receive a high school diploma.

Question 3, if passed, would provide Transportation Network Drivers with the right to form unions and to collectively bargain with Transportation Network Companies.

Question 4, if passed, would allow people 21 and older to grow, possess and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances.

Question 5, if passed, would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker over the course of five years, from 64 percent of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2025, to 100 percent of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2029.

• Essex County Clerk of Courts Thomas Driscoll, Jr., a Democrat seeking reelection in a race contested by two challengers: Todd R. Angilly, an unenrolled candidate from Lynnfield, and Doris V. Rodriguez, an Independent candidate from Lawrence.
• A race for the Registry of Deeds seat for the Essex Southern District between Eileen M. Duff, a Democrat from Gloucester, and Jonathan Edward Ring, a Rockport Republican.

As of Aug. 7, there were 22,154 total registered voters in Saugus. That included 4,928 Democrats, 2,110 Republicans, 14,852 unenrolled and 59 Libertarians.

Where to vote in Saugus

Precinct/Polling Locations

1/Saugus Middle High School Complex – 1 Pearce Memorial Drive

2/Veterans Early Learning Center – 39 Hurd Avenue

3/Saugus Senior Center – 466 Central Street

4/Belmonte STEAM Academy – 25 Dow Street

5/Saugus Senior Center – 466 Central Street

6/Veterans Early Learning Center – 39 Hurd Avenue

7/Knights of Columbus – 57 Appleton Street

8/Belmonte STEAM Academy – 25 Dow Street

9/Saugus Middle/High School – 1 Pearce Memorial Drive

10/Italian American Club – 1 Beachview Avenue