Drinks with Dems, BoxDems DTC meeting, Double Feature—Voting Ballot Measures, Winning by a Single Vote
Quick overview
Drinks with Dems
First things first. On Thursday, we’re having the third Drinks with Dems at Alfalfa Farm Cellars. We’ll be there from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
It’s fun, very friendly, and not all politics—last time with a couple of candidates dropping for (very) informal chats. This time, we’ll bring some name badges to make it a little easier for those of us who are hopeless with faces.
No need to sign up - show up as you are - no obligation!
Check out our Calendar page in the very unlikely case of last-minute updates. (Where is Alfalfa Farm Cellars? Directions.)
BoxfordDems Ballot Measure Series
QUESTION 4: NATURE-CONSERVATION FUND
The responses to our ballot-measure survey on Question 4 flooded in over the last week. Who knew?! Nature conservation, trails, and breathable air seem to be popular in nature-rich Boxford. Not surprisingly, the measure enjoys unanimous support among our respondents. A couple of readers even left comments (available in our Comments section).
QUESTIONS 2 AND 3: TWO VOTING-RELATED MEASURES
Continuing our BoxfordDems Ballot Series, we have a double feature this week Eleanor Grigg Schoenberg (on Question 4) and Terri Teleen (on Question 3) summarize and explain the two voting-related measures on this year’s ballot-measure slate. The former article concerns same-day voting; and the latter deals with the attempt to change Massachusetts’ primary system.
As usual, please click the voting buttons in the respective articles to weigh in with comments and your own recommendation.
As we publish each article, we provide a BoxfordDems-subscriber consensus recommendation, which might come in handy going to the ballot box.
Next committee meeting in 10 days
Mark your calendars. The BoxfordDems’ next committee meeting will be in about 10 days, on August 27 at our usual place at 10 Elm Street, starting at 7 p.m. Our agenda will include preparation for Primary Day; our Blue Rides (driving Dems to the polls), activities up to the Genereal Election; a visit by Connor Murray, who will update us on his campaign’s progress and bring lawn signs for attendees, and a couple of household items. We also plan to hold a vote to endorse Connor formally as a committee, even as most of us have done so in our individual capacities.
As usual, the meeting will also serve as an opportunity to drop off items for our Diaper Drive.
A new feature, as you’ll see, is the option to let us know what you like, don’t like, provide feedback, or just comment on issues.
Have a great week!
Christian Schoenberg, Chair
Boxford Democratic Town Committee
chair@boxforddems.org
P.S.: As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at christian@boxforddems.org or Terri at terri@boxforddems.org.
P.P.S.: The BoxfordDems do not endorse primary candidates if multiple candidates are running, but we’re more than happy to publish event details from candidates! Please reach out to us at chair@boxforddems.org with text and artwork.
Editorial: Winning by a single vote—on voting and registering as a Democrat
Busy week! Tomorrow may be recycling day; but every day is anti-fascism day!
By Christian Schoenberg, August 17, 2026.
WHY REMAIN UNENROLLED WHEN SAINTHOOD BECKONS?
A quick note related to the ballot measures on voting. This week I corresponded with an unaffiliated or unenrolled voter who was inquiring about our organizing an event on a very worthy topic—and it raised a question that we’ve discussed before as to why one might want to declare one’s Democratic affiliation.
WHAT ARE BOXFORD’S NUMBERS
Registering as a Democratic Party-affiliated voter does help the Democratic town committees locally. For example, the Democratic-Republican balance on Boxford’s Board of Registrars is determined by the number of the respective parties’ registration numbers. That board steps in in case of recounts and election outcome issues.
(Happily, the BoxfordDems are trending in the right direction. Between February and August this year, we have gained 17 Democratic registrations (Aug. 10: 996); the town Republicans have gained only 3 (914) (most Boxford voters—4,596--prefer not to declare their party affiliation).)
Put differently, it’d be swell if we didn’t leave the review or auditing of election results with a party that has embraced J6, are fully committed to denying election outcomes, and featuring candidates submitting fraudulent signatures.
A SINGLE VOTE
But, you say, this is small-town Massachusetts—we’re a solidly blue state! Is that really relevant here?
If you think your single vote doesn’t matter, think again! Cast your mind back to December 2022 and our neighboring 2nd Essex District (Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newbury, and Rowley, and Topsfield’s Precinct 1). Back then, our neighbors went to the polls and elected the then-Republican incumbent, Lenny Mirra.
Or so we thought. His Democratic opponent, Kristin Kassner lost by just 10 votes. She challenged the outcome, and a hand recount definitively showed that Kassner won by a single vote, a result that was subsequently upheld in litigation and separate reviews. She was sworn in in February 2023.
DON’T SIT ON THE SIDELINES
Whatever you do—in both the primary and general elections—do not stay at home or put off voting or postpone getting involved or remain unenrolled. There’s no room for complacency!
We all need to come out to vote the Democratic ballot—and persuade our neighbors and friends to do the same. Don’t sit out this election just because it is not a direct vote on the demented buffoon currently occupying the White House. This vote is about preventing the buffoon’s local enablers up and down the ballot from getting anywhere near office; and it’s about electing people who will be a bulwark against absolute tyranny for the final two years of this nightmare.
This Week’s Ballot Measures
BALLOT QUESTION 3
There she is again, Terri Teleen, our fantastic committee vice chair, summarizing the proposal to open the Commonwealth’s primary system, a move that would almost certainly disfavor Democratic candidates and healthy, contested races.
BALLOT QUESTION 4
Talking of voter registration, our next featured piece in our BoxfordDems’ Ballot Series is written by Eleanor Grigg Schoenberg, our newest BoxfordDems Committee member, and it concerns the Election-Day Registration Initiative (Same-Day Voter Registration)
TOP-TWO PRIMARY ELECTIONS INITIATIVE
By Terri Teleen. Published July 17, 2026.
If approved, the initiative would replace Massachusetts’ current primary election system with a single, open primary. All candidates would appear on a single primary ballot.
The two highest vote-getters for each office—regardless of party affiliation – would move on to the general election in November. This would apply to all statewide offices (Governor, Attorney General, etc.), the state legislature, U.S. House and Senate races, and other state elections (county and district offices).
Go to article to comment and vote in our survey.
ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION INITIATIVE (SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION)
By Eleanor Grigg Schoenberg. Published August 17, 2026.
Massachusetts voters will soon decide whether eligible residents should be able to register to vote and cast a ballot during the same visit on Election Day or throughout the early voting period. This proposal, alongside Q3, represents one of the most significant potential changes to the Commonwealth’s election system in decades.
Go to article to comment and vote in our survey.
Past Weeks’ Ballot Measure Instalments
John Beccia was at West Village Provisions last week on his 39 Towns in 39 Days Tour
Can I ask John Beccia a question? “You Beccia!!” The candidate for the MA-06 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is on a 39-in-39 Tour.
Democrats and democracy-leaning organizations sharing regional calendar
We’ve invited all the various Essex County Democratic city and town committees, local Democratic campaign teams, as well as local organizers (such as the Indivisible groups) to post events directly to our calendar. Learn how to use and embed our North Shore Calendar on your site…
Hitch a ride to the polls with the BoxfordDems’ Blue Rides
The BoxfordDems are offering rides to the polls to registered Democrats in Boxford. If you’re somehow prevented from getting to the polls at Boxford Town Hall, we’ll be happy to give you a ride. Let us know!
Join us for “Drinks with Dems” at Alfalfa Farm Cellars on August 20
Every third week of each month we meet with area Democrats at Alfalfa Farm Cellars for beers at 4:30-6:00pm. No speakers. No agenda. Just having fun!
Volunteer with Tram’s Campaign
Join Tram’s grassroots movement of neighbors and friends to knock doors, make calls, and get the word out that Tram is the people's candidate. We publish her campaign’s schedule weekly.
Join Team Koh to get the word out about Dan!
We're knocking doors, making calls, and talking with our friends all across the district. You can see all of our upcoming opportunities here.
Our Doorhanger Initiative is still going strong - distribute 47 doorhangers to your neighbors and get a BoxfordDems swag bag!
We’re always looking for neighbors willing to distribute door hangers in Boxford! We have no public sidewalks; residents don’t expect canvassers; Boxford has 2-acre zoning; houses can be hard to find—in other words, Boxford is notoriously difficult to canvass.
Other great opportunities to get involved - nationwide
Zoe Finch Totten and others have provided us with some useful links to some organizers whom you should consider joining. Click the images to go their websites and check them out!
This week’s issue
BOXFORDDEMS BALLOT-MEASURE SERIES
This week’s ballot measures
Q3: State Primary Elections (Terri Teleen) (link)
Q4: Same-Day Voter Registration (Eleanor Grigg Schoenberg) (link)
Last weeks’ ballot measures
Overview of ballot-initiative process (Christina Eckert) (link)
Q1: Public Records Requirements (Ellen Mandel) (link)
Q6: Establish Nature-for-All Fund (Jessica Grigg) (link)
GET INVOLVED INITIATIVES
Drinks with Dems: Meet fellow Tri-Town Dems at Alfalfa Farm Cellars (link)
Distribute 47 doorhangers and get a BoxfordDems swag bag (link)
We’re getting out the Boxford vote with Blue Rides (link)
Democrats and democracy-leaning organizations sharing regional calendar (link)
Other great opportunities to get involved - nationwide (link)
CAMPAIGNS
Comment on this week’s newsletter or submit feedback here!
If we publish your submission, we reserve the right to edit for length and ease of reading.
