Voting in the State Primary

Above: Primary voting opens in a month at the Town House – or you can apply to vote by mail. (photos by Beth Melo)

Early voting in the state Primary opens tomorrow. So, it’s time for a reminder on what’s on the ballot and where/how you can cast it.

Reminder – you don’t have to be registered for a specific party to vote in the State primary. But, if you are registered with a party, you can’t vote on another party’s ballot. (And it’s too late to change your affiliation for this time around.)

Below I’m sharing the information on how to vote, followed by which candidates are vying for our votes. Since the last time I shared information, more candidates have posted campaign websites and/or participated in debates.

Voting By Mail

This summer, registered Southborough voters should have received a postcard offering options for voting by mail. If you took advantage of the option, you should have received the ballot earlier this month. (You can click here to track yours.) 

Remember, you need to get them back in by the end of voting on September 6th. You can do that by mail, or in the Town Clerk’s official voting drop box at the Town House. 

It’s worth noting that through the mail is just one way that voters can cast their votes early. You can also vote in person at the Town Clerk’s office. Those hours, which begin this weekend, are listed below.

Voting in Person

Primary Day is Tuesday, September 6th, and the State Election is November 8th. Day-of voting for both is 6:30 am – 8:00 pm at Trottier Middle School gym, 49 Parkerville Road. 

Leading up to the primary, you can also vote in person at the Town House, 17 Common Street, 1st floor. Those early voting hours are:

• Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Monday, Aug. 29,  8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, Aug. 30, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, Aug. 31, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Thursday, Sept 1, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Friday Sept 2, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

If you have any questions, call the Town Clerk at 508-485-0710 ext 3005 or email townclerk@southboroughma.com.

Contests on the ballot

Below are details on who is competing for votes in the primaries. (For those that have campaign websites I could find, I inserted links so you can start researching their positions.) Only Democratic and Republican parties are holding primaries for our precincts.

Governor

• Democrat ballot – Technically, the ballot offers a choice here. But the top-listed candidate has already officially withdrawn from this race.
  • Sonia Rosa Chang-Diaz (State Senator, Boston resident)
  • Maura Healey (Attorney General, Boston resident)
• Republican ballot – Candidates’ Debate: The Howie Carr Show
  • Geoff Diehl (a former State Representative, Whitman resident)
  • Chris Doughty (Wrentham resident)

Lt. Governor

• Democrat ballot – Candidates’ Debates: WGBH’s Greater Boston, WBUR/Globe/WCVB
  • Kimberly Driscoll (Current Salem Mayor; a former City Councillor)
  • Tami Gouveia (State Representative, Acton resident)
  • Eric P. Lesser (State Senator, Longmeadow resident)
• Republican ballot – Candidates’ Debate: WBUR/Globe/WCVB
  • Leah V. Allen (a former State Representative, Danvers resident)
  • Kate Campanale (a former State Representative, Spencer resident)

Attorney General

• Democrat ballot – Candidates’ Debates: WGBH’s Greater Boston, WBUR/Globe/WCVB
  • Andrea Joy Campbell (Boston)
  • Shannon Erika Liss-Riordan (Brookline)
  • Quentin Palfrey (a former Asst. Attorney General, Weston resident – and a native of Southborough)
• Republican ballot – uncontested – James R. McMahon, III (Bourne resident)

Secretary of State

• Democrat ballot – Candidates’ Debates: WGBH’s Greater Boston, WBUR/Globe/WCVB
  • William Francis Galvin (Incumbent, Boston resident)
  • Tanisha M Sullivan (Boston resident)
• Republican ballot – uncontested – Rayla Campbell (Whitman resident)

Auditor

• Democrat ballot – Candidates’ Debates: WGBH’s Greater Boston, WBUR/Globe/WCVB
  • Christopher S. Dempsey (Rep. Town Meeting Member, a former Transportation Board member, Brookline resident)
  • Diana DiZoglio (State Senator, a former State Representative, Metheun resident)
• Republican ballot – uncontested – Anthony Amore (Winchester resident)

Governor’s Councillor – Third District

• Democrat ballot The winner of this race will likely be uncontested in the general election. – Candidates’ Debate: WCA-TV
  • Marilyn M. Pettito Devaney (Incumbent, Watertown resident) – profile
  • Mara Dolan (Concord resident) – profile

Uncontested in primary

We already know which candidates will be on the ballot this fall for the following positions. (Some of the uncontested candidates don’t even have opponents on another primary ballot. The deadline has bassed for Non-Party candidates to file to add their names to the November ballot. I’m not aware that any have, but can’t yet rule out that possibility.)

• Treasurer
  • Democrat – Deborah B. Goldberg (Brookline resident)
• Representative in Congress – 2nd District
  • Democrat – James P. McGovern (Incumbent, Worcester resident)
  • Republican – Jeffrey A. Sossa-Paquette (Shrewsbury resident)
• Senator in General Court – Middlesex & Worcester District
  • Democrat – James B. Eldridge (Incumbent, Acton resident)
  • Republican – Anthony Christakis (Wayland resident)
• Representative in General Court – 19th Worcester District
  • Democrat – Kate Donaghue (Westborough resident)
  • Republican – Jonathan I. Hostage (Southborough resident)
• District Attorney – Middle District 
  • Democrat – Joseph D. Early, Jr. (Incumbent, Worcester resident)
• Sheriff – Worcester County –  
  • Democrat – David M. Fontaine (Veteran, Paxton resident)
  • Republican – Lewis G. Evangelidis (Incumbent, Holden resident)