The GOP’s Disturbing War on Voters’ Voices
In a healthy democracy, the will of the people is sacrosanct. Elections are held, votes are counted and the outcome, whether popular or painful, is respected.
In Mattapoisett, the open town meeting form of government is a system whereby citizens directly participate to enact local laws, pass budgets, and authorize town spending. It’s the purest form of direct democracy. Any registered voter may attend and vote on all, or only some of the matters on the Warrant.
On May 12, 2025, Mattapoisett held its Annual Open Town Meeting and presented voters with a Warrant comprised of 34 Articles. Article 34 was the Citizens’ Petition proposing expansion of our select board from 3 to 5 members.
Before Town Meeting, select board member Tyler Macallister appeared on WBSM and mentioned he would ask that Article 34 be advanced on the warrant, while encouraging voters to vote against it. Neither the sponsor of Article 34 nor its proponents played a role in advancing the Article. With no objection, Article 34 was the 5th matter voted on.
After vigorous debate voters passed Article 34 by the legally required simple majority.
Following the vote, the Select Board conceded they could not impede submission of the Article to our Legislative delegation for action. However, not before the Select Board argued that the vote was invalid because attendees left after voting, not staying for the entire meeting. And further, claimed without evidence that the vote was invalid because “non-registered voters participated”.
A faction of the Republican Party has taken a dark turn that undermines the foundations of democratic rule. There is a trend not just to question election outcomes, but to actively work to override or suppress them.
Nationally state legislatures strip power from elected officials simply because they are Democrats. Partisan election boards refuse to certify election results they dislike. There is brazen gerrymandering and purging of voter rolls to dilute the voice of voters.
Nationally the GOP has embraced tactics prioritizing political control over public consent with the seismic moment in this movement being Trump’s refusal to accept his losing outcome of the 2020 election. Since then the GOP has led efforts to subvert the will of voters nationwide.
As an example of this disturbing trend, look no further than what the Mattapoisett GOP Chair is advocating. He is circulating a Citizen’s Petition seeking to override and suppress the will of Mattapoisett voters by “repealing Article 34”.
The GOP claims to be a champion of freedom and local control. Yet, when those freedoms lead to outcomes they disagree with, it abandons principle for power.
Democracy is not a partisan issue. Whether a Democrat, Republican or anything in between, one should recognize the danger in refusing to honor the voice of the voters. Silencing, suppressing or sidelining voters to cling to control is classic authoritarian drift.
The voters of Mattapoisett have spoken. Accept the outcome of the vote at Town Meeting.
Nicki Demakis, Author of Citizen’s Petition/Article 34, Mattapoisett
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Click here to download the 7/31/25 issue: 07-31-25 FAYAB12U
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