Elizabeth Warren casts ballot, encourages others to do the same

By Luke Scotchie

United States Senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren called our state lucky to have a female-dominated ballot in its gubernatorial race while voting in Cambridge this morning.

“This is a moment when Massachusetts gets one step closer to saying, ‘We want to draw on the talents of everyone, not just half the population,” Warren said.

Warren voted alongside her husband, Bruce, and dog, Bailey, at the Graham and Park School in Cambridge. Despite being a high-profile politician, she said she considers herself little more than a devoted citizen who wants nothing more than for her fellow Americans to vote, which she says would keep our leaders in check. 

“Ultimately, that’s how we make sure that the people we elect are truly accountable to us, the voters,” Warren said.

Warren also pledged her support for all four ballot questions this year. She urged college students to vote “yes” on all of them as well, particularly Question 1.

“The first one is making sure that billionaires and millionaires pay a fair share so that we can invest that money in education and transit,” Warren said. “And talk about an investment in the future, obviously, education to our people.” 

She also emphasized how important investing in transit is, and how essential our transit system is to all other areas of life in Massachusetts.

“But investing in transit is also investing in housing and jobs and education so people can get around to do those things,” Warren said.

Warren also mentioned the importance of voting “yes” on Question 4, which would remove proof of citizenship or immigration status when applying for a driver’s license if passed.

“Question four [is] really important because it says that everyone who’s on the road should have a driver’s license and is entitled to get one regardless of their documentation status,” Warren said.

Warren believes that passing these four ballot measures would be a massive change for the better, but voters in this state can make history in other ways, too. This election cycle features a record number of women on the Massachusetts ballot, including gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey. The potential of an all-female governor’s office also rests on the ballot, which excites Warren, who became the first female U.S. Senator from Massachusetts after beating incumbent Scott Brown in 2012.

Warren also encouraged college students to vote in this election because their future is on the line, from the planet’s survival to how much debt they may have.

“Everything from the survival of this planet to how much debt they run up in order to go to school is ultimately affected by who their representatives are both at the state and the federal level.”

The ballot box shut down at 7:00 pm tonight. Sen. Warren believes that by voting, people in Massachusetts can make positive change.

“Every time we get out and vote, it strengthens our democracy,” Warren said, “so it is important that everyone who’s eligible to vote goes to the polls and makes their voice heard.”