Barnstable's election is today: Follow us for live updates and results after polls close
BARNSTABLE - Polls are now open in Barnstable and the Nov. 7 town election is officially underway.
The day features races for Town Council in seven of the 13 precincts, as well as a race for Housing Authority. Polls will be open until 8 p.m. Polling takes place in various locations according to precincts. If you don't know which precinct you are in, visit sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA
Barnstable has about 36,000 registered voters, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Election information, including sample ballots, can be found at https://town.barnstable.ma.us/Departments/TownClerk/Office_Information/Election-Information.asp.
This story will be updated throughout the day and will include election results after polls close.
Pace of voting slow on Tuesday in Barnstable
Just before 1 p.m. at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center, where polling took place for Precincts 8, 9 and 13, post-lunch voters trickled in.
"It's not been as busy as when we have a state election," Precinct 13 warden Cathy Nuges said, with 151 voters.
Things were slow at the other precinct tables, too. Overseeing the Precinct 8 section was warden Carole Taylor, who reported "very slow" voting in her precinct by close to 1 p.m., with 58 ballots turned in.
"But we don't have any contested positions in Precinct 8," she said.
In Precinct 9, which does have a contested race for Town Council, voters were coming in with smiles and quickly dispensing with the three-item ballot. Precinct 9 warden Priscilla Laliberty said many people commented on how short the ballot was but were eager to have their input.
"They come in and 'do their job,'" she said. "They understand it's important to vote."
By close to 1 p.m., she said, the precinct had counted 88 ballots. She also characterized the pace of things as "slow," and smooth.
Smooth start to Election Day in Barnstable
So far, everything's been going smoothly, according to the town clerk's office.
Town Clerk Ann Quirk was "out in the field" at 9:20 a.m. according to her office staff, checking in on the polls. She was off to an early start around 6 a.m. making sure everything was in place and ready to go.
Election Day scene at Hyannis Youth and Community Center at 8 a.m.
Eighteen votes in Precinct 13 by 8 a.m. was the tale of the tape early on Election Day in the Town of Barnstable.
Precinct 9 voters Mike Doumanian and his wife Jessie arrived hand in hand shaking off the morning rain as they collected their ballots to chose between town council candidates Charles Bloom and Michael Mecenas. It's one of the town’s seven contested races, where all thirteen seats on the council are up for election.
Poll workers at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center stood at the ready, greeting many voters by first name as a long day lay ahead. Their civic duty done, the Doumanians joined hands again and headed upstairs to walk a few laps around the track before heading home.
What to know for Election Day in Barnstable Nov. 7
Polling hours
Polls opened bright and early at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m.
Election Day traffic management
In observance of Massachusetts Municipal Elections, road construction today will be limited to mitigate traffic impacts, according to the town.
Traffic on Route 28 will be maintained in both directions and detours will be removed for the duration of the day.
Afternoon polling access advisory for Precincts 8, 9 and 13
Voters from Precincts 8, 9 and 13 whose voting location is the Hyannis Youth and Community Center are advised by the town to access the building by way of Stevens Street between 2 and 4 p.m. to avoid traffic queueing within the rotary.
Where to vote in Barnstable
Polling takes place in various locations according to precinct. If you don't know which precinct you are in, visit sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA
Following are the precinct-by-precinct voting locations:
Precinct 1: Zion Union Church, 805 Attucks Lane, Hyannis
Precinct 2: St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road, Centerville
Precinct 3: Barnstable Adult Center, 825 Falmouth Road, Hyannis
Precinct 4: Our Lady of Victory Hall, 230 South Main St., Centerville
Precinct 5: Osterville Fire Station, 999 Main St., Osterville
Precinct 6: Gym of Christ Chapel, 2-C Oak St., Centerville
Precinct 7: Freedom Hall, 976 Main St., Cotuit
Precincts 8, 9 and 13: Hyannis Youth Center/Rink, 141 Bassett Lane, Hyannis
Precincts 10 and 12: 7th Day Adventist Community Building, 2736 Falmouth Road, Marstons Mills
Precinct 11: W. Barnstable Community Building, 2377 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable
What does the ballot look like?
Sample ballots can be found on the town's website at https://town.barnstable.ma.us/Departments/TownClerk/Office_Information/Election-Information.asp
Contests for Town Council
All 13 town councilors are up for election, some of whom are facing challengers for their seats.
There are contests for the Council seats representing Precincts 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and 12, with six incumbents each facing a challenger, in addition to one contest between two newcomers for the Precinct 9 seat.
Precinct 1: Incumbent Gordon Starr is challenged by Paul Gage.
Precinct 2: Incumbent Eric Steinhilber is challenged by Kristin Terkelsen.
Precinct 5: Incumbent Paul Cusack is challenged by John Crow.
Precinct 6: Incumbent Paul Neary is on the ballot. He is challenged by write-in candidate Paul Phalan.
Precinct 9: Two newcomers, Charlie Bloom and Michael Mecenas, are facing off to take over from Councilor Tracy Shaughnessy, who did not seek re-election.
Precinct 11: Incumbent Kristine Clark is challenged by Toby Leary.
Precinct 12: Incumbent Paula Schnepp is challenged by Kyle Condinho.
Barnstable Town Council candidates: Who is running races for Barnstable Town Council? Meet the contested candidates
Councilor faces write-in challenger: Seventh race emerges for Barnstable Town Council in town election. Who's eying Precinct 6?
Three candidates are running uncontested for Barnstable School Committee
There are no competitive races for Barnstable School Committee. Three candidates are seeking election to three positions.
Current Chairman Michael Judge and Vice Chairman Kathleen Bent are seeking reelection. The third candidate is Jennifer Cullum, who currently represents Precinct 13 on the Town Council but who is terming out of that position.
Who are the candidates for the Barnstable Housing Authority?
The Housing Authority has two, four-year commissioner terms, but just one candidate who is on the ballot: Incumbent Deborah Converse, who presently serves as treasurer.
Michael Daley, of Marstons Mills, last week formally launched a write-in campaign for the other open seat.
In his announcement, Daley told his supporters he is not using stickers because of the town's balloting equipment.
"You just need to use the pen in the booth to write my name, Michael Daley, in the open spot for Housing Authority," he said. Daley has served the town in a number of elected and appointed positions since 1979. He was an elected Representative Town Meeting Member in 1980, chaired the town’s Finance Committee in the mid 1980s, and served as an elected member and chairman of the 1988 Charter Commission that changed Barnstable from a Town Meeting form of government to the current city form that uses a Town Council.
Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: LIVE: Election Day in Barnstable. What to know before you vote
