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Posts tagged as “election”

Voter Registration Closes This Friday

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

MWCC Community Can Look to Brewer Center for Registering Before Deadline

By Jordan Chila | Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Tom Hill Jr.

The 2024 election is fast approaching, and surprisingly, not every state offers same-day voter registration. Massachusetts is one of those states, with a voter registration deadline of October 26, 2024. There are several last-minute ways to register: by mail, in person, or online. Since not everyone in the community is registered, take advantage of the right to vote and register today.

Massachusetts is among the 28 states that don’t offer same-day voter registration, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your vote in before the deadline. MWCC students can register in person at their local election office or by mail. For those who are registering to vote by mail, be sure that the registration form is postmarked by the deadline date of October 26, 2024. For an even simpler option, there is also the option to register or vote online. Where exactly is one able to find the online registration form? Well, the commonwealth of Massachusetts provides the link here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/. It takes about five minutes, and all that is required is valid identification. read more

MCAS: To Change or Not to Change?

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

Deciding the Future of the MCAS Graduation Requirement with Question 2

By Princess Yeboah | Assistant Editor

Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu from Unsplash

Question 2 on the election ballot addresses the MCAS testing requirement for high school graduation. This year, Massachusetts voters will decide whether to keep or change the rule that requires students to pass the MCAS to graduate. A “yes” vote would remove the requirement that students pass MCAS, while voting “no” would mean the requirement would still be in effect. According to the Rennie Center Education Research and Policy, the MCAS became a requirement to graduate in 2003. While some find this test motivating, some educators support keeping the test but without making it a graduation requirement. read more

Students and Faculty Weigh in on Upcoming Psychedelics Vote in Massachusetts

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Image by Alan Rockefeller, from Wikimedia Commons

This November, Massachusetts voters will decide on several statewide ballot questions, including Question 4, the limited legalization of certain natural psychedelic substances, also known as the “Natural Psychedelic Substances Act.” The proposal would legalize and regulate the supervised use of certain natural psychedelics—such as psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, and ibogaine—for adults 21 and older.

In 2020, Oregon became the first state in the nation to legalize psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, in 20 of its most populated cities, opening more than 20 service centers to administer the drug, according to NPR. read more

MWCC Students Provide Thoughts on 2024 Presidential Debate

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor

Former president Donald Trump (R) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) shake hands at the September 10th presidential debate.

Last month’s debate on September 10 between former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, marked the first—and potentially the only—chance for voters to see both candidates on stage discussing key issues facing the nation, including immigration, taxes, the economy, abortion, and foreign policy.

Students Matthew Infantino, Sarah Vargas, and Oren Cohen gave their thoughts on the debate.

Matthew Infantino joined MWCC in the fall of 2024 and is studying Environmental Science. He is 44 years old and offered up his insight to the presidential debate by answering the questions below. read more

Tips and Tricks for Supporting Your Mental Health During Election Season

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor

Photo by Jon Tyson from Unsplash

Mental health is a topic of concern for many people, and awareness for mental health has been steadily increasing. Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) is eager to contribute to this important cause. Leeanne Hadsel, Senior Mental Health Counselor of MWCC’s Counseling and Wellness Services department shared some insight on the topic of mental health during election season and gave some advice about how students, staff, and faculty can manage their physical and mental health during an election season. read more

A Brief History of Voting Technology

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Image by Element5 Digital from Unsplash

Since the inception of the United States in 1776, elections have been essential for choosing the next president. From colonial times until the late 19th century, elections were held, and votes were cast orally at courthouses. Presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln were elected this way. However, this changed with the invention of the Acme Voting Machine.

The Acme Voting Machine was invented in Bridgewater, Connecticut, around 1880 to prevent voter fraud. With its open-slot box design, crank lever mechanism, and tabulator, it offered voters an honest, secure and reliable way to cast their votes. In the following years, it was reported that election officials would tear or mark ballots, making them invalid. This issue prompted the invention of the Lever Style Voting Machine in Lockport, New York. By pulling down its levers, the machine locked votes to prevent tampering, while also making the process faster and more accurate. While it was effective and efficient for its time, its maintenance was complex and it had limitations, such as only being able to tally votes internally rather than producing a verifiable record of each individual vote. read more

What to Know Before You Vote

By editorialteam on October 23, 2024

Information gathered from Massachusetts Information For Voters 2024 Ballot Questions –
Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin
Submitted by Desiree Leader | Staff Writer and Summarized by Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

QUESTION 1
State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature

Question 1 asks voters if the state auditor should be allowed to investigate and review some activities of the state legislature, the branch that drafts, debates, and passes laws

What a YES vote means:
Nothing would change immediately, but it would allow the state auditor to test new investigative powers over the legislature. Lawmakers could potentially resist or overturn this authority. read more

(Archive December 2016) United We Stand

By editorialteam on September 4, 2024

By Kelly Cacciolfi | Observer Contributor

United we stand, divided we fall. This is how I feel about what has transpired since this historical election. It’s my opinion that we need to raise our voices, let them be heard, and march in solidarity… peacefully. 

Our young children are watching every move, protest, and bad word said. This is not what I choose for my children. I believe we should rise together and make this a cry to our young adults and children to be the change.

I took part in the Post Election Dialog two days after the election in the North Café on the Gardner campus, where what was shared in the circle stayed in the circle. Thoughts that were expressed were ones of fear, anger, helplessness, and happiness. This is a wonderful safe place where on campus, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to come together and share their thoughts, feelings, and how they will pull through a tough time.  read more

(Archive December 2016) Post-Election

By editorialteam on September 4, 2024

By Scott Mellecker | Observer Contributor

It was undoubtedly a heated election. Some people were surprised, and even more people were shocked. It didn’t matter who a person voted for, all were stunned to find out who the winner was.

The recent days following the election have been hectic. Some people are scared, others are protesting, and students are being handed teddy-bears to cuddle. There has never been so much up-heave over an election. 

The halls of Mount Wachusett Community College seemed grim. It didn’t seem as if your favorite candidate lost the election, but instead seemed like there was a massive terrorist attack that took out half the country. A look of sadness covered the faces of students at the school. read more

(Archive December 2016) How Mainstream Media Created the Silent Voter

By editorialteam on September 4, 2024

By Rebekah Chiasson | Assistant Editor

Being a communication major and taking multiple journalism classes throughout the 2016 presidential election has been invigorating as well as infuriating. Watching the mainstream media I once aspired to be part of fail to expertly, fairly, and justly report the news on this election was heartbreaking. While learning how to avoid media bias in journalism class, myself and the nation watched national news leaders sway opinions and skew facts.

It culminated to news anchors from channels including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox being forced to admit, “We were wrong.” The day after the election, these networks asked, “Who is the ‘silent voter?’” Where did these Trump supporters come from because mainstream media was oblivious to their existence? The answer – Mainstream media created the silent voter. read more