Hilary Kavanaugh and Sister Mary Francis check their ballots back in after casting their votes. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
A near-record 89.3 percent of Harvard’s registered voters turned out at the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in a historic presidential election, as well as contests for other positions in state and United States government. Sixty-three percent of Harvard votes cast in the presidential race went to the Obama-Biden ticket, while 33 percent went to McCain-Palin, reflecting the sentiment across the state, which favored Obama-Biden over McCain-Palin by a margin of 62 percent to 36 percent.
In the race for senator in Congress, Democrat John Kerry beat Republican contender Jeffrey Beatty by nearly 2 to 1, the same margin by which Democrat Jamie Eldridge defeated Republican Steven Levy for senator in the General Court of Massachusetts. Niki Tsongas, running unopposed for representative in Congress, garnered 2,502 votes.
Liquor sales approved
Eighty-one percent of Harvard voters approved Ballot Question 4, allowing the sale of liquor in Harvard in restaurants and function rooms with a seating capacity of at least 100 people. The measure would not allow liquor stores or taverns in Harvard, but would settle the question of whether liquor sales could be allowed at Fruitlands Museum and other restaurants, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.
Voters also approved local Ballot Question 5, directing the district’s state representative to vote in favor of distributing $450 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund to cities and towns for property tax relief.
Harvard residents voted with others across the state in approving Question 2, decriminalizing possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by replacing criminal penalties with civil fines and requirements for community service and participation in drug education programs. They also voted with others state-wide in turning down Question 1, a proposal to eliminate the state personal income tax, and in approving Question 3, to phase out dog racing in Massachusetts.
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