Danvers Election Results 2016: CPA Question Comes Up Short

DANVERS, MA – Come on America, we can get through this. Voters march to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to help decide one of the most historic presidential elections in most of our lifetimes.

From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., voters hit voting booths across the country, electing not only our next commander-in-chief, but members of congress, state representatives and senators, councillors and county sheriffs in their communities.

Danvers' Unofficial Results:

According to the preliminary numbers, 15,504 ballots were cast in Danvers.

• The Clinton/Kaine ticket won the town with 7,681 votes over 6,464 for Trump/Pence.
• Seth Moulton won his uncontested race.
• Eileen R. Duff won over Richard A Baker for the Governor's Council.
• Joan B. Lovely won her uncontested race.
• Ted C. Speliotis won his uncontested race.
• Kevin F. Coppinger won the town over other sheriff candidates with 6,597 votes, roughly 1,000 votes over candidate Anne Manning-Martin.
• Question 1 (slot licenses) lost – 8,365 to 6,418.
• Question 2 (charter schools) lost – 10,175 to 5,010.
• Question 3 (free range chickens) won – 11,873 to 3,290.
• Question 4 (recreational marijuana) lost – 8,006 to 7,253.
• Question 5 (CPA) lost – 8,987 to 5,898.

Tuesday, 10 a.m., at the Danvers High School field house:

Dozens of sign holders and a steady stream of voters headed for the polls Tuesday morning. Rep. Ted Speliotis – who is running unopposed – handed voters a nail file with his name on it.

Sandy Lane was holding a sign supporting Question 5 – the question concerning a Danvers CPA – outside the field house. She said she voted early, the first day she could, and was in and out of town hall in four minutes.

"I got to get this over with," Lane said, laughing. "I don't want to hear from either one of [the presidential candidates] anymore."

Lane said her first time voting was for John F. Kennedy in 1960. She recalled the excitement and enthusiasm she felt when casting her first ballot, and said that feeling wasn't there when she cast her ballot this time around.

"It's just name calling," she said of this presidential election.

Lane was joined by Diane Langlais, Chairwoman of the Danvers Board of Selectmen. Langlais was also supporting Question 5, and voted early. She said she's been tuned into CNN, and stayed up late last night to hear both presidential candidates' speeches.

"It was kind of exciting to see it kick off," Langlais said. "I love the process."

Langlais said she supports adopting the Community Preservation Act in Danvers because of how much discussion surrounds project applications before they receive funding. First, projects would go to a committee, then to the Board of Selectmen, and would ultimately be considered at a town meeting.

Lane said she also supports Question 1 on slot licenses.

"I like to see people come out and get involved."

Tuesday, 11 a.m., at the Danvers High School field house:

Glenn Vaux, a born-and-raised Danvers resident, was outside the field house supporting the Trump/Pence ticket.

"I just really feel it's important to uphold the constitution," he said. Vaux said he supports less government and more people, and said he's gotten a lot of thumbs up from voters entering the polls.

"Everyone's been very polite," he said. He said he supported Question 5, and opposed Question 4 (the legalization of recreational marijuana.)

Sally Kerans, just down the row from Vaux, was there supporting Question 5 and the Clinton/Kaine ticket.

"I'm with Hillary, and have been from the get go," she said. "I think she's uniquely prepared." Kerans said she felt this was a race between pessimists and optimists. "There's no question in my mind that she's going to bring this country forward."

Kerans said she voted "no" on Question 4, and that she didn't want marijuana to be too available to people. She was supporting Lynn Police Chief Kevin Coppinger for Essex County Sheriff.

"He's a tested administrator of a large public safety organization," Kerans said.

Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., inside the Danvers High School field house:

Cathy Ellsworth, assistant town clerk, said things were going smoothly inside the newly-renovated field house. Like many polling places, there was a line at the door around 6:30 a.m.

Ellsworth said Danvers had just over 7,000 early voters.

And on Monday in Danvers, the cutest and best-behaved voter delivered an absentee ballot.

This is Earle The Service Dog. He lives in Danvers with his partner, Chris, and works for Mobility from N.E.A.D.S, in Princeton, Mass.

Got a neat photo or video clip like Earle? Send it to us! Email photos, videos, and tidbits from the polls with the name of your town in the subject line to taylor.rapalyea@patch.com.

Here is our 2016 Danvers Voter's Guide, and our rundown of Essex County Sheriff Candidates.

Thinking of moving to Canada? Read this first.

Check back here to get updates throughout the day, and election results, including the number of voters, on Tuesday evening.

Photos courtesy of Earle The Service Dog and Taylor Rapalyea