This Friday is deadline to register to vote in September 6 primary election

[ron_newman]

The state will hold a primary election next month, on THURSDAY, September 6 (not the usual Tuesday). To vote in this election, you must be registered by this Friday, August 17. That's also the deadline for changing your address or your political party enrollment.

In Somerville this week, the Election Department at City Hall will be open today (Wednesday) from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Thursday from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm; and Friday from 8:30 am to 8 pm. I think other towns and cities are holding similar registration hours. You can register at any city or town hall, not just the one where you live.

You can also register to vote by mail. The official voter registation form is now online as a PDF. Either fill the form out on your computer and then print it out, or print out the blank form and fill it in by hand. Attach postage and mail it to your local election official. It must be postmarked by this Friday.

Republican Senator Scott Brown and his Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren are unopposed in their party primaries.

In Somerville, Congressman Mike Capuano and State Senator Pat Jehlen are both unopposed in the Democratic primary, and no Republicans are running for these seats.

Somerville is divided among three state representative districts. Representative Denise Provost has a Democratic primary challenger, Harry Kortikere. Representatives Tim Toomey and Carl Sciortino have no opposition on the Democratic primary ballot, but will face Republican challengers in November.

There are also Democratic primary races for Governor's Councilor (6th district) and for Middlesex South Register of Deeds (six candidates, including two from Somerville - Maria Curtatone and Maryann Heuston). I have no idea what basis to use in choosing candidates for these offices.

As a result of the 2010 census, district and ward and precinct boundaries have changed. Use this form to find out who your elected officials are and where your polling place is now. (Somerville residents can also use this form, or look at the new ward and precinct map.)

Please feel free to add comments about races in neighboring towns and cities, about the Governor's Council and Register of Deeds candidates, or about anything else related to the September primary.

Comments

[marphod.livejournal.com]

For those of you in Medford, some voting locations changed for this year. Ward 4, precinct 2 (which is part of Medford Hillside), which used to vote at the Tufts Field House, now votes at the Fondacaro Center on Walking Court, near the Rt 16/Medford Whole Foods.

[ron_newman]

In Somerville, Ward 6 Precinct 1 now votes at the Kennedy School (Sartwell Avenue entrance) instead of at the Dilboy VFW.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

"In Somerville, Congressman Mike Capuano and State Senator Pat Jehlen are both unopposed in the Democratic primary, and no Republicans are running for these seats. "

How many write-in votes does it take to win a primary where nobody is running?

Ron Newman for Congress!

[ron_newman]

You need the same number of write-in votes as the number of signatures you'd have to submit to get on the primary ballot for that office. The Secretary of State's official guide for candidates says that's 2000 for Congressmember, 300 for State Senator, 150 for State Representative.

Also, I think a write-in vote won't count if it's for a person who is registered in a different party, so don't bother writing my name on your Republican ballot ;-) Hmm, maybe that's not true. I don't see it mentioned on Secretary Galvin's official How to Run for Office as a Write-in or Sticker Candidate page.

thank you!

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clarifying some of this stuff for me. I'm often shamefully ignorant of such details. I think my polling place hasn't changed but you've reminded me to check.

[ams16.livejournal.com]

Is Maria Curtatone any relation to the dear Mayor?

[ron_newman]

Yes, she is Mayor Joe's sister.