Grafton goes for Biden, Markey, McGovern as world watches U.S. election

Grafton voters overwhelmingly turned out on Election Day, choosing Democrat Joseph Biden for president over incumbent Donald Trump. The vote matched the feeling of Massachusetts but possibly not the rest of the nation.

An impressive 11,289 ballots were cast, via mail-in ballot, early voting, and day-of votes at the polls. Both Grafton Middle School (Precincts 1, 2, 3) and Millbury Street Elementary School (Precincts 4, 5) saw steady business throughout the day. The sheer number of mailed ballots lengthened the time it took to process the winners at the end of the night, with one poll worker quipping “the earlier the vote, the longer the night for us.”

Support for Biden was evident by the signs and Democrats at the entrances to both polling places, although a smaller Trump contingent vigorously waved Trump flags and a large Betsy Ross American flag. Biden received 6,977 votes, with Trump drawing 3,958.

Grafton voters also voted in favor of Question 1, the expansion of the state’s Right to Repair law, with 8,290 voting yes and 2,745 voting no. The opposite was true for Question 2, ranked choice voting, which lost, 4,605 voting yes versus 6,461 voting no.

A full precinct-by-precinct tally of the votes is on the attached .pdf.

The unofficial count at the polls:

Senator

Edward J. Markey, Democrat, incumbent 6,854
Kevin J. O’Connor, Republican 4,142

Congress

James McGovern, Democrat, incumbent 6,767
Tracy Lyn Lovvorn, Republican 4,299

State Senator

Michael Moore, Democrat, incumbent 8,615

State Representative

David Muradian, Republican, incumbent 8,465

Councillor

Paul DePalo, Democrat 8,313

Register of Probate

Stephanie Fattman, Republican, incumbent 5,483
John Dolan, Democrat 4,595

Question 1: Expanding Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law
Yes 8,290
No 2,745

Question 2: Ranked-choice voting
Yes 4,605
No 6,461

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