The 2022 Massachusetts primary on Tuesday, Sept. 6 is a little over two weeks away, but in-person voting gets underway in Marblehead on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Marblehead Town Clerk Robin Michaud will offer six days of early voting in Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., at the following dates and times:
This is the first election since the June municipal election, during which the town depleted ballots before polls closed. Michaud said she doesn’t expect a shortage of Sept. 6 ballots, given the state dictates ballot orders in primaries and mid-term elections.
The town clerk did send out an Aug. 25 email with a Sign Up Genius link, requesting help for early voting and advance processing: https://bit.ly/3dZT7OK.
“We are still looking for people to help with early voting and advance processing on Monday we need help with early voting and processing, ” she wrote. “The shifts are 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m and 12:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. We need two people for early voting and two people for advance processing.”
She added, “We are still looking for help for Election Day, too. If you know of anyone that can help, please send them our way.”
The in-person, early-voting process
Saturday, Aug. 27 is the last day to register to vote in the Sept. 6 primary. To vote by mail, Marblehead voters must request an early-voting application. Completed ones must be returned five days before Election Day and can be submitted by mail, email or fax.
“They must include a signature that can be compared to your hand-written signature,” the Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin. “Electronic signatures, scanned applications and photos of applications are accepted.”
When early voting in person at Abbot Hall, election staff will check voters in similar to how the Election Day process unfolds. Once a voter casts a ballot, they can neither ask for it back nor vote again on Election Day.
Early-voting ballots – whether cast in person or via mail – must be returned in a sealed envelope, and the ballots will “only be removed during public-counting sessions.”
“Cities and towns may begin tabulating early and absentee ballots before Election Day, but no results can be known until after polls are closed,” Galvin’s website reads. “All ballot counting takes place in public.”
A look at the dozen seats opening up
In the 2022 election cycle, a dozen county, state and federal offices open up on Tuesday, Nov. 8. In the Sept. 6 state primary, Marblehead voters will select candidates to represent their party on the November ticket.
In state primaries, Massachusetts election law restricts voters enrolled in a political party to their party’s primary. An unenrolled voter, however, can pull a party ballot of their choice.
With no Republicans on the September ballot for Essex County District Attorney, the 6th District for the Governor’s Council, the Essex County Sherrif and the 8th Essex District, the Democratic victors in these races are almost certain (barring successful blitz write-in campaigns) to be elected to office in November.
That’s why the Marblehead League of Women Voters underscored just how consequential voting the Sept. 6 primary is.
“Whoever wins these particular primaries will be your elected official,” the league writes of the district attorney, sheriff and the 8th Essex District races.
Helpful links
- Am I registered to vote? http://bit.ly/2dwThOV
- Where do I vote? http://bit.ly/2dwSRbm
- Track your ballot: https://bit.ly/3pOWGKm
- Identification requirements: https://bit.ly/3CAid1a
- Register to vote online: https://bit.ly/3ARc1Rd
The state primary rundown for Marblehead
The state primary ballots that the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website posted for Marblehead lists the following candidates:
Governor
Democrats
State Sen. Sonia Rosa Chang-Diaz of Boston
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey of Boston
Republicans
Former state representative Geoff Diehl of Whitman
Chris Doughty of Wrentham
Lieutenant Governor
Democrats
Mayor Kim Driscoll of Salem
State Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton
State Sen. Eric Lesser
Republicans
Leah V. Allen of Danver
Former state rep. Kate Campanale of Spencer
Massachusetts Attorney General
Democrats
Andrea Joy Campbell of Boston
Quentin Palfrey of Weston
Shannon Erika Liss-Riordan of Brookline
Republicans
Jame R. McMahon of Bourne
Massachusetts Secretary of State
Democrats
Secretary of State William F. Galvin of Boston
Tanisa M. Sullivan of Boston
Republicans
Rayla Campbell of Whitman
Massachusetts Treasurer
Deborah B. Goldberg of Brookline
Massachusetts Auditor
Democrats
Town Meeting Member Christopher Dempsey of Brookline
Sate Sen. Diana DiZoglio of Metheuen
Republicans
Anthony Amore of Winchester
6th Congressional District in Congress
Democrats
Congressman Seth Moulton of Salem
Republicans
Bob May of Peabody
6th District Governor’s Council
Terrence W. Kennedy of Lynnfield
3rd Essex Senatorial District in General Court
Brendan Crighton of Lynn
8th Essex Representative District in General Court
Jennifer Armini of Marblehead
Diann Mary Slavit Baylis of Marblehead
Tristan Smith of Swampscott
Theresa M. Tauro of Marblehead
Douglas Thompson of Swampscott
Polly Titcomb of Swampscott
Eastern District Attorney
Democrats
James P. O’Shea of Middleton
State Rep. Paul Tucker of Salem
Essex County Sheriff
Democrats
Kevin F. Coppinger of Lynn
Virginia Leigh of Lynn