It’s not just the contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump for president that’s driving up expectations for voter turnout in Massachusetts this year—several consequential ballot questions and new early voting could also help push voters to the polls.
Massachusetts could set a new record for voter turnout on November 8, Secretary of State William Galvin told reporters Tuesday. Galvin expects the 2016 contest could beat the 3,184,196 votes for president cast in Massachusetts in 2012.
“Given the intensity of this particular presidential choice, the diversity of these ballot questions and other issues, I think it’s quite probable we’ll reach that,” Galvin said.
Galvin is sending out information booklets to voters that explain the ballot questions on casino gambling, charter school expansion, farm animal containment and legalizing marijuana.
Only around 8.5 percent of registered voters turned out for the state’s primary election on Sept. 8.
This is the first year Massachusetts voters will have access to early voting, which starts on October 24, giving residents even more more opportunity to participate.
“We think this is something that will work out very, very well for our voters, and certainly for those who have difficulty standing for an extended period of time and particularly for those who already know who they want to vote for and simply want to do it,” Galvin said.
