November Election Puts Pollard, Ballot Questions up for Vote

November 2, 2026
• Election Day is tomorrow, Nov. 3.

At the bottom of Needham voters’ ballots reads a simple statement: “You have now completed voting.” By then, hands may already be cramped.

This fall’s ballot is an endurance exercise, with three pages to work through and many circles to fill. Statewide, there are nine ballot questions — tied with the state’s record — and Needham has one additional question, the subject of the many lawn signs and social media posts over the last several months.

Question 10 asks Needham voters whether they support a tax override tied to the Pollard Middle School reconstruction. This follows a decisive Special Town Meeting vote two weeks ago that supported the cost of the planned development, estimated at more than $322 million. The tax burden on residents will likely be lower, as the town secured a state reimbursement of up to $80.6 million.

Question 10 reads: “Shall the Town of Needham be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to provide architectural design, engineering, construction, demolition, and site work, including incidental costs, for a new Pollard Middle School on Harris Avenue?”

Two vocal advocacy groups are spending the lead-up to the election trying to sway voters on that pivotal question. In the “yes” camp sits Pollard Now, which supports the design for a new middle school and stresses that the time to do so is now. In the “no” contingent is Needham Residents for Thoughtful Zoning, a group that emerged during the Envision Needham Center project that warns of the high cost of the Pollard construction that will be passed onto taxpayers.

Pollard Now is reported to have outspent NRTZ by a nearly 20-1 margin, as previously reported by the Needham Observer.

At Special Town Meeting, nearly 91% of members voted in favor of the Pollard construction funding. State Sen. Becca Rausch and state Rep. Josh Tarsky, who both live in Needham, have publicly supported Question 10. The Charles River Regional Chamber, the nonprofit business organization that represents Needham and other neighboring communities, also endorsed Question 10.

If the question does not pass, the town could hold a special election to reconsider the effort, though Town Manager Katie King has previously stated a “no” vote would effectively kill the project.

The chamber also backs Question 7, a measure that would, if passed, allow single-family zoning on lots of at least 5,000 square feet, with several conditions. U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss attended a talk, hosted by the chamber, on Question 7 back in August, where he endorsed the effort. Rausch also is voting “yes” on Question 7 and released a list of how she is voting on several other ballot questions.

The League of Women Voters of Needham hosted a ballot question forum last month, which The Needham Channel recorded. The league also shared resources on how residents can cast their ballots and who is on the ballot. The LWV is a non-partisan organization.

The Massachusetts secretary of state’s office summarized the statewide ballot questions on its website.

Rausch and Tarsky, both Democrats, are up for reelection, though neither faces a challenger this cycle. Auchincloss, D-Newton, is running for a fourth term against Republican candidate Thomas Stalcup. Gov. Maura Healey is also running against Republican Mike Minogue.

Where to vote

Polling locations for several Needham precincts changed for the September primary. Here is where each precinct will vote on Tuesday:

Precinct A, B and C will vote at the Hillside School Building, located at 28 Glen Gary Rd.

Precinct D will vote at the Public Safety Building at 88 Chestnut St.

Precinct E and H will vote at the Needham Golf Club at 49 Green St.

Precinct F will vote at the Rosemary Recreation Complex at 178 Rosemary St.

Precinct G, I and J will vote at Powers Hall in Town Hall.

The town clerk’s website has additional information on this election, including a specimen ballot. The website also includes a map of all 10 of Needham’s precincts.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.