Updated, Nov. 6
The Associated Press has declared Donald Trump winner of the 2024 presidential election, what has been called a remarkable comeback.
On the Island, voters overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris. About 8,000 votes were cast for the Harris-Walz campaign compared to about 2,700 for Trump-Vance.
For local races, the Island has chosen new members for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. Based on unofficial voting results, voters selected Mary Bernadette Budinger-Cormie and incumbent Ben Robinson for Tisbury, over third candidate William O’Brien. Voters can only vote a maximum of two representatives to the commission per town. Islanders also supported Linda Sibley and Ernest Sederholm over Amy Upton for the two seats representing West Tisbury. There was no one on the ballot to represent Aquinnah, but Janette Vanderhoop received 57 write-in votes in Aquinnah, the most by far from any candidate.
Islanders have also voted overwhelmingly to return Provincetown Democrat Julian Cyr to the state Senate. Thomas Moakley cruised to victory to represent parts of Falmouth and the Islands at the state House without facing a challenger.
*
After early voting boosted turnout to 40 percent in some towns, polling places across the Island were steady with voters on this official election day and the final day to cast ballots.
Pollsters in key swing states have consistently reported a neck-and-neck presidential race between Democrat and Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican and former president Donald Trump, though a number of state and local races and consequential ballot questions are before Island voters as well.
In Edgartown, shortly after polls opened, residents on both sides of the political divide were anxious. Many have thought the tally will be too close to call for the presidential election by Tuesday night, though many expressed hope that it won’t be close and that Harris will surge ahead with a large percentage of women coming out to vote for her.
“I’m dreaming it’s a landslide so we don’t have to deal with fights in the streets,” said Pierre Guerin, casting his ballot at Edgartown town hall along with his wife Susan Guerin on Tuesday morning. Both said they voted for Harris-Walz.
“We have to save democracy and women’s rights,” Susan Guerin said. “The Republican Party has gone to hell in a handbasket. Maybe we need more than two parties.”
Joe and Marianne Carter voted Harris-Walz as well, noting that they were “way more” anxious about the outcome compared to prior years.
“It’ll be nice to get back to a day where we can have a rational discussion of issues without people getting too emotional,” Joe Carter said.
On the other side of the aisle, there were some expressing enthusiasm for another Trump presidency. Anthony Lorenze said he voted for Trump-Vance to “Make America great again.”
“A lot of things are about to change in the world for the better,” Lorenze said after stepping out of the town hall. “I just don’t understand how people can vote for liberal government — when it’s not their money, all government should be conservative.
“The outcome of the election when all is said and done will be biblical,” he added.
Others at the polls expressed excitement. Ursula Kreskey didn’t share who she voted for but said she felt “fantastic.”
“I’m so excited to be in this country and I wouldn’t miss a chance to come out and vote for what I believe in,” she said. “I’m excited that so many people are getting out, that care about what’s happening for this country for the next four years.”
In Oak Bluffs, town clerk Colleen Morris said the polls have been “steady all day.” As of about 1:30 pm, 922 ballots were cast or over 50 percent of voters.
“Everyone’s just quietly voting,” Morris said, noting that there hasn’t been any interruptions or disturbances.
Some Oak Bluffs voters declined to disclose to the Times who they voted for.
“It’s very interesting to see how far we’ve fallen in terms of tolerating each other’s differences,” Dave Christensen said. “You embrace differences, that’s what made America great.”
Jeff Glasser, who came to the Oak Bluffs polls with his dog Angel, said he has friends on both sides of the political aisle, and many people are not comfortable voting for Harris or Trump, including himself. He declined to say who he voted for. “I’ve never seen so many so seriously far apart,” he said.
In Tisbury on Tuesday morning, Vineyarders moved smoothly through polls at the Emergency Services Facility.
Couple Jack and Joanne Connolly had just cast their ballots for Harris-Walz. Speaking to The Times, Jack Connolly shared that he showed up particularly fueled by “anxiety” compared to past elections, while Joanne Connolly cautiously expected a Democrat victory.
“[I’m] guardedly optimistic, hopeful that Kamala Harris will win,” she said.
If Harris wins, Jack Connolly has also pledged to his family that he’ll go for a swim outside, a pastime of sorts. “I made a promise before the [2020] election that if Biden won, I would go swimming the day after the election results, no matter what the weather was … I made the same promise this year. If Harris wins … I go swimming, even if it’s 40 degrees,” he said.
Another Tisbury voter declined to provide his name, but did tell The Times that he withheld a decision for either presidential ticket, despite typically making a choice.
“I don’t think both parties are trustworthy enough to support the average person,” he said on Tuesday morning.
“I always vote,” he added. “There are very few times that I don’t. I just think it’s a divided country. It’s basically 50–50 along partisan lines.”
On other ballot issues, Jack Connolly — and Joanne Connolly, a teacher — also voted to keep the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test as a graduation requirement for students.
“I feel that it’s important that there be a standard,” Joanne Connolly said. “Hopefully for the kids that don’t pass it, they’ll come up with another alternative.”
The couple also voted “No” on Ballot Question 5, which asked whether to gradually increase tipped workers’ minimum wage. Joanne Connolly recalled being lobbied against the question recently by a server off-Island.
“The waitress made a point … at the end of the meal, saying ‘Please, consider — vote no. We’re very happy with the way things are,’” Joanne Connolly said. “And I imagine that some restaurants on their own are already splitting the tips amongst wait staff and people who are not wait staff.”
Find details on local elections and ballot questions from our reporting here.
Eunki Seonwoo, Daniel Greenman, Nicholas Vukota, and Sam Houghton contributed to this report.
