Bedford Turnout Tops 60 Percent in State Election

Representatives from Dollars for Scholars were station outside the door at the Glenn Middle School for Election Day. Staff photo/Wayne Braverman

Almost 62 percent of the town’s 10,517 registered voters participated in Tuesday’s state election, even though there were no specific local contests.

The town clerk’s office, in its preliminary results posted about an hour after the polls closed at 8 p.m., reported that 6,507 residents voted.

Other unofficial tallies showed that U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, whose 6^th District includes almost the entire town, recorded 4,398 Bedford votes. Republican Robert May had 1,521.

A section of the east side of the town, contiguous to Lexington, is now part of the 5^th District (and a subsection of Precinct 2, now known as 2A). Democratic U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark outvoted Republican Caroline Colarusso, 218 to 116.

The Rotary Club collected personal care items for the Middlesex Community College food pantries at a table outside of the polls in Bedford for Election Day. Staff photo/Wayne Braverman

Democrats also dominated the voting for the state constitutional offices. The preliminary results were:

Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll over Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen, 4,658 to 1,801.
Attorney General: Andrea Campbell – 4,433, James McMahon – 1,949.
Secretary of State: William Galvin – 4,759, Rayla Campbell – 1,497.
Auditor: Diana DiZoglio – 3,689, Anthony Amore – 2,183.

State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg did not have a Republican opponent.

Bedford voters favored three of the four ballot questions, though the results on the first question were close:

A proposed amendment to the state constitution that would establish an additional 4 percent state income tax on that portion of annual taxable income in excess of $1 million (Question 1): 3,194 – Yes, 3,082 – No.
A proposed requirement for dental insurance companies to spend at least 83 percent of premiums on members’ expenses or quality improvements (Question 2): 4,675 – Yes, 1,542 – No.
A proposed law to reduce the maximum number of “all alcoholic beverages” licenses owned by any one retailer from nine to seven licenses, and a gradual increase in the combined limit of “all alcoholic beverages” and “wines and malt beverages” licenses for off-premises consumption. (Question 3): 2,850 – Yes, 3,245 – No.
Retention of the law opening access to driver’s licenses for all residents regardless of legal status. (Question 4): 3,869 – Yes, 2,386 – No.

The town’s two legislators, both Democrats running unopposed, received the highest totals: State Rep. Kenneth Gordon – 4,947, and State Sen. Mike Barrett – 4,882.

One election worker said she fielded at least two inquiries from voters looking for Article 10, calling for authorization of easement acquisition to allow construction of the Minuteman Bikeway extension. That matter will be settled at the Special Town Meeting, which begins on Monday night in the Bedford High School gym.