GBH, October 2025
On a mild Friday afternoon earlier this month, Sadia Mansoor shuffled up a cracked sidewalk in Worcester’s Main South neighborhood, knocking on doors to let people know about the election on Nov. 4.
Sometimes, no one answered. Other times, she’d hear a dog barking. But the residents who did open their doors offered similar responses: they’re too busy to vote, don’t believe casting a ballot will matter, don’t know who’s running, or don’t understand how to vote early or by mail.
“We [tell] them, ‘Hey, if you need any help, we can come back,’” said Mansoor, a volunteer with the nonprofit Worcester Interfaith. “But most of them are not much interested in the overall political process of Worcester.”
Her conversations reveal what the city’s election data has long shown: Worcester is full of potential voters who don’t cast ballots. Turnout in the city routinely ranks among the lowest in Massachusetts — but that wasn’t always the case. Decades ago, residents voted at more than double the rate they do today. And this year, civic organizations are hoping their grassroots efforts will help restore some of the enthusiasm voters used to have.
