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Posts tagged as “voting”

(Archive October 2018) Why You Should Vote: A Student’s Thoughts

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Brittany Eldridge | Observer Contributor

When asked about the upcoming elections, Betsy Torres said that it is the responsibility of all U.S. citizens to vote. 

As a registered voter, Torres hopes to vote in the elections in November. She said voting is a valuable tool that students can use to their advantage. “It is a way for us to take part in society,” said Torres.

Voting is a way in which students can express their opinions openly. Torres believes this is true even if the opinions of students differ from her own. Torres explained that “opinions matter” and that expressing those opinions, no matter what those opinions are, is a right. read more

(Archive October 2018) Registering to Vote in the November Elections

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Brittany Eldridge | Observer Contributor

The state elections may be a month away, but it is important to register to vote now. 

The deadline to register to vote in the November elections is October 17th, 2018. You can register by going online to www.RegisterToVoteMA.com, by visiting your city or town hall, or by completing a mail-in form. 

The polls for the November state elections open on November 6th, 2018 at 7:00 A.M. and close at 8 P.M. on the same day.  

On November 6th visit your assigned polling place. Your polling place depends on your street address and can be found online at www.sec.state.ma.us. First visit the check-in table, next confirm your name and address, and then fill out the paper ballot at your assigned booth. read more

(Archive October 2018) November 2018 Ballot Questions Explained

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Brittany Eldridge | Observer Contributor

Information on each 2018 Ballot Question can be found in these Voter Information booklets. They also include information on how one can register to vote.
Photo by Thomas Hill Jr.

MWCC students who are registered to vote will have the opportunity to express their opinions on three ballot questions in the upcoming November State Elections. Students must be familiar with the ballot questions in order to make an informed decision.

Question One describes a law that requires nurses working at medical facilities to be held responsible for a set amount of patients. The maximum number of patients a nurse can care for depends on the physical state of the patient(s) and the type of facility (for example, an emergency room). read more

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