This information was current as of 8:25 a.m., Wednesday, November 6. This story may be updated as more information becomes available.
According to preliminary numbers released by Town Clerk Amy Warfield Tuesday night, 8087 Burlington residents cast their ballots for the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, while 5521 voted for former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Green Party candidate Jill Stein got 162 votes in Burlington.
That generally mirrors the preliminary numbers for Massachusetts, which was called by the AP around 8:30 p.m. Harris led Trump with about 63 percent of the vote Tuesday night. The AP declared Trump the winner of the presidential race early Wednesday morning.
According to the AP, the top issues motivating Massachusetts voters were the economy, immigration and abortion, with 32 percent, 21 percent and 13 percent of surveyed voters saying this was their top issue, respectively.
In down ballot races, Burlington largely supported uncontested or shoo-in Democratic candidates, sending Elizabeth Warren back to the Senate for her third term with 7590 votes. That also mirrors state data: The AP projected Senator Elizabeth Warren would retain her seat with about 64 percent of the vote. Burlingtonians also supported Congressman Seth Moulton, Governor’s Councillor candidate Mara Dolan, State Senator Cindy Friedman, and State Representative Ken Gordon. In a contested race, Burlington voted to support the incumbent Register of Deeds Maria C. Curtatone over newcomer William “Billy” Tauro, 7472 votes to 4679 votes.
Burlington also mirrored Massachusetts overall in its votes on the four of the five ballot initiatives, supporting Questions 1 and 2 while voting against Questions 3, 4 and 5.
Question 1, whether or not to specify that the State Auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature, got a “YES” vote with about 72 percent in favor. The issue has been a core campaign for State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, but the idea has faced strong pushback from legislators, who say the move would violate the separation of houses of government as mandated in Massachusetts law. Burlington voted strongly in favor of the initiative, 9641 to 3551.
About 59 percent of voters supported Question 2, to eliminate the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement. The move was supported by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the state’s largest teacher’s union, and by Burlington’s own teachers union, the Burlington Educators Association. Burlington also mirrored the state’s trend as of Tuesday night, with 7953 in favor and 5808 opposed.
On Question 3, whether or not to specify that transportation network drivers have the right to form unions, Massachusetts voters came in at about 54 percent in favor. Here, Burlington differed from the state projections, voting against the measure 6283 to 6970.
Question 4, whether or not to allow adults over 21 to possess certain psychedelic substances under certain conditions, went to the “NO” vote by a slimmer margin at the state level, about 57 against, 43 in favor. In Burlington, voters also opposed the measure, with 8473 voting against it and 5153 voting for it.
Massachusetts voters said “NO” to Question 5, whether or not to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers to the full state minimum wage, by a margin of about 64 to 36. Burlington strongly opposed the measure, with 8814 against and 4825 in favor.
About 79 percent of eligible Burlington voters, or 14,208 total voters, cast their ballots in the election.
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