Sarah Whitman, a South Shore resident and employee at the Boston-based restaurant technology company Toast, has gained significant attention on social media for her clear and concise explanations of Massachusetts' ballot questions ahead of the state’s election on Tuesday. Whitman’s videos, posted on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, have collectively garnered nearly 1.5 million views, surpassing the reach of many more professionally funded campaigns addressing the nine questions on the ballot.
The ballot measures include a proposal to eliminate Massachusetts’ long-standing partisan primary election system, among other complex policy issues. Whitman’s approach, characterized by straightforward, low-production videos delivered in a conversational tone, appears to have struck a chord with voters who often find the technical language of ballot questions difficult to understand.
“I do believe that people care, and they want to be educated, but they don’t want to tell anyone that they’re not educated,” Whitman said in a recent interview. She added that her videos provide a discreet and accessible way for people to inform themselves, noting, “So this is a really easy way for them to hide in the bathroom and watch a video on the ballot question.”
Whitman’s breakout social media presence stands out amid the heightened and sometimes personal online debate surrounding the referendum. She maintains a measured and fact-based tone, avoiding the ad hominem exchanges that have marked other discussions. Her work reflects a growing trend of individuals leveraging digital platforms to break down political and policy issues for broader audiences during major elections.
The Massachusetts ballot on Tuesday includes nine questions addressing a range of issues from election reforms to social and economic policies. The campaigns supporting or opposing these measures have invested considerable resources to influence voter opinion, but Whitman’s grassroots effort demonstrates the impact an informed and respectful voice can have in the digital public square.
