Traffic at the Greenfield Meetinghouse was steady at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning as residents came to vote in the 2026 midterm elections.
Republican candidate Jarvis Adams, Sr. of Greenfield, who ran against Democratic incumbent Molly Howard of Hancock for state representative for District 31, said he was “feeling good” about Election Day.
“It’s great, and we’re just very happy to be out here,” he said.
Greenfield farmers Conrad and Ellen Dumas said they hoped for a change in administration after the elections.
“I am anti-fascist,” Conrad said.
Nanette Perrotte and Sebastian Lockwood, who held signs for Democratic candidates, said healthcare, Social Security, and education were among their chief concerns.
“I just turned 60, so I want that Social Security to be there. I’m also very concerned about women’s rights – women’s right to vote, a woman’s right to choose. I run a business that makes women’s skincare products, so I’m very focused on women’s health and how women are doing in this country,” Perrotte said.
Lockwood, a native of the United Kingdom, recently became a U.S. citizen and voted in a U.S. election for the first time.
“I would say my top concerns are access to healthcare along with free education,” he said.
Ann Hayashi and her son, Tim Mathias, said their primary issue in this election was “protecting their rights, and the rights of their neighbors. “
“I’m also concerned about affordability and access to healthcare,” Hayashi said.
Nick Zotto said he “always votes, no matter what the issues of the day are,” but that he was concerned about Ballot Question 2 about the proposed property tax cap.
“I’m hopeful about today,” he said.
‘Simple as that’
Jesse Edwards doesn’t vote by party, but by the “best person for the job.”
In today’s midterm election, that meant filling the bubble for Democrats down the ballot: Chris Pappas for U.S. Senate, Maggie Goodlander for Congress and Cinde Warmington for governor.
Standing outside the polls in Antrim, where a steady stream of voters filtered in and out of town hall, Edwards said he believes they’re the ones who will make the changes he wants to see.
Edwards, who works at a dental office in Concord, said he’s most concerned about affordability and healthcare and spent time watching campaign ads and doing his own research on the election.
“They make a proper change in the proper way,” said Edwards of his chosen candidates. “Simple as that. I’m a simple man.”
Republicans hope to turn out voters in Antrim. Not far from town hall, two young people manned a booth for Turning Point Action, a conservative advocacy group.
A habit of voting in Hancock
Despite dueling signs down Main Street – Democratic signs lined one side, while others for Republican state representative candidate Jarvis Adams lined the other – the mood at the Hancock Meetinghouse was jovial early on Tuesday morning, with residents greeting one another out front.
Among them was Robbyn Jackson, who said she’s consistently voted since she was old enough.
“It’s a privilege for citizens. It’s actually a duty,” she said. “So I’m happy to vote, and I’m hoping that there’ll be some big changes.”
Jackson said she’s concerned about the country’s direction, both in terms of political corruption and federal services being “decimated.” She used to work for the National Park Service.
She’s also a hard “no” on Question 2. The ballot question asks all New Hampshire voters whether they want to cap their local school budgets and property taxes at the rate of inflation, but Jackson said she thinks both schools and local control need to be protected.
“I’m definitely a ‘no’ on that,” Jackson said. “I mean, come on.”