While a larger than usual number of Harvard voters have opted to cast their ballots in next week’s state primary election by mail, those who haven’t can still head to the polls on Sept. 1 and vote in person.
The election will decide which candidates from each of Massachusetts’ four major parties will compete in November’s general elections to fill congressional and state offices. Voters who have registered as members of the Democratic, Green-Rainbow, Libertarian, and Republican parties must choose their party’s ballot, but unenrolled voters, formerly known as independents, can ask for the ballot of any party. Because no names appear on either the Green-Rainbow or Libertarian ballots, most Harvard voters will likely opt to cast either a Democratic or Republican primary ballot.
Harvard voters will choose candidates to run for the U.S. Senate, the Third District of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Middlesex & Worcester District of the Massachusetts Senate, and the 37th Middlesex District of the House of Representatives. Also on the ballot are the Worcester County Register of Probate and Third District of the Governor’s Council.
The town is currently represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democrat Lori Trahan, in the state senate by Jamie Eldridge, and in the state house by the recently elected Dan Sena. All three are unopposed in the Democratic primary, as is Marilyn Devaney, who is running for another term as district councillor. That’s not the case in the race for the U.S. Senate, where incumbent Ed Markey is fighting an aggressive challenge by U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III. And John Dolan and Kasia Wennerberg are vying to run for Worcester County Register of Probate.
On the Republican side, Shiva Ayyadurai and Kevin J. O’Connor are competing to represent their party in the race for the U.S. Senate. The winner will face Markey or Kennedy. Catherine Clark is running unopposed to represent the 37th Middlesex District in the state and will face Sena for a second time in the general election this fall. Stephanie Fattman is running unopposed to be the Republican candidate for Register of Probate. There are no Republican candidates running for the U.S. House, state senate, or the governor’s council.
Although ballots are available for the Green-Rainbow and Libertarian parties, no candidates have stepped forward to compete for any of the six positions that will be filled in November. Unless write-in candidates appear, neither party will be represented in the fall election.
Voting next week will take place at the Bromfield cafeteria from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Because of the risks posed by the persistence of the COVID epidemic, the number of voters and election personnel inside the building will be limited. In addition, Town Clerk Marlene Kenney asks voters to observe the following precautions:
- Wear a face covering.
- Bring a pen—blue or black ink. There will be unused and sanitized pens available for use at the polls.
- Bring an ID—in some cases voters will be required to show an ID.
- Don’t touch your face while at the polling location.
- Maintain social distancing. Keep 6 feet from anyone not from your household.
- Keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers. Moisture causes ballots to jam in the voting machines.
