On Sept. 3, Massachusetts voters will head to the polls and pick which Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians (the three parties Massachusetts recognizes) they want to see advance to November’s general election.
This year, Newton has two competitive races for its two state representative seats. And there’s a race for Governor’s Council on the Democratic side and a race for U.S. Senate on the Republican side. Every other seat is uncontested.
Here are five things to know for the Sept. 3 primary.
1. Who can vote
Massachusetts primaries are open to all voters, but there are restrictions.
Anyone registered as a member of a party isn’t allowed to vote in another party’s primary. So registered Democrats get Democratic ballots and Republicans get Republican ballots. If someone wants to switch their party (or switch to unenrolled) to vote in the primary must do so at least 10 days before the primary.
Unenrolled (typically called “independent”) voters are allowed to vote in any party primary.
Voters of all parties should check their registration status on the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website.
2. The races
Newton has two competitive state house races this year, as state representatives Ruth Balser and Kay Khan are retiring from the legislature.
Former City Councilor Amy Sangiolo and Alex Jablon, auditor for RTX (formerly known as Raytheon), are competing for the Democratic nomination for the 11th Middlesex seat. Vladislav Yanovsky, director of education at the Boston Career Insitute, is running unopposed in the Republican primary for that seat.
The 12th Middlesex seat has three Democrats running for it—city councilors Bill Humphrey and Rick Lipof and former City Councilor Greg Schwartz—but no Republicans.
The tiny bit of Newton that sits in the Middlesex 10th district, held by state Rep. John Lawn, doesn’t have any challengers this year.
There’s a race for a Governor’s Council seat, with Marilyn Petitto Devaney and Mara Dolan running for the Democratic primary.
And while U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren doesn’t have any Democratic challengers, there are three Republicans vying for the chance to take her on in the general election: Robert Antonellis, Ian Cain and John Deaton.
3. When and where
The primary will be Tuesday, Sept. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling places are all around the city and are specific to neighborhoods and addresses. Newton’s city website has a complete map of the city’s wards and precincts as well as a page where residents can enter their address and find their exact polling place for Election Day.
Early voting will be held at City Hall on the following days:
- Saturday, Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Voters can find more information, including sample ballots, on the city website.
The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.