Pizza paid for by the company’s credit card fueled Item reporters Tuesday night as we worked to bring you coverage of the Lynn, Saugus, and Peabody elections.
Once polls close at 8 p.m., a sort of frenzy begins in local newsrooms across the country. In the heat of the moment, we focus on exact vote tallies, who won, and who lost. The real fun comes the following day when you get to sit down, review the charts, and note any trends. But this year, thanks to a unique slate of local races, there were few across the North Shore.
More people cast their ballots this year in Saugus than in years past. In 2021, the town experienced a 20% turnout rate and this year, that number increased to 23.5%. The same could not be said for Lynn and Peabody.
This year, both cities saw a drop in the number of votes cast relative to 2021. The most significant change in turnout happened in Lynn. While 23% of the city’s eligible voters turned out in 2021, only 15.6% cast their vote on Tuesday.
However, that didn’t stop those who did turn out from bringing about major change in Lynn. Its City Council became the most diverse in the city’s history, with five of the 11 now-elected members being people of color. Among them are Ward 4 Councilor-elect Natasha Megie-Maddrey and Councilor-at-Large-elect Nicole McClain, the first Afro-Latina and Black women to be elected to the council, respectively.
In what I think is a perfect response to her victory, McClain told our reporters, “I’m honored, and I will not disappoint.”
As journalists, it’s easy for us to see November elections as our “Super Bowl,” but they are never about us. The reason it is fun to identify trends in the results is because they reveal how voters feel about their community.
While turnout in Lynn was low, a statement was made. It is clear voters hope that a diverse council will bring fresh perspectives and welcome change to City Hall.
Rachel Barber is The Item’s news editor. Her column appears every Thursday.
