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Date: 8/24/2022
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Voters can start weighing in on statewide nominating races among both Democrats and Republicans this month.
Requests are being taken now for mail-in ballots, and in-person early voting sessions are slated to begin Aug. 27. The primary election day is Sept. 6.
Voters can request a mailed ballot in person or by filling out a form at www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleabsentee/absidx.htm. That site has an application that can be submitted online, or one that can be printed out and mailed to the local town clerk’s office.
Before COVID-19, voting by mail was only allowed for those who qualified for absentee ballots, which are available only to people who will be out of town on election day, or cannot make it to a polling place for disability or religious reasons. The new voting by mail process is open to all registered voters without having to provide a reason. Applications for mail-in ballots must be received online or at the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Aug. 29.
The primary election will choose nominees for the two major parties, who will face each other and any independent candidates in the November election. Voters who are registered members of the Democratic and Republican parties must take their party’s ballot. All others, including Green Party members, Libertarians or unenrolled independents, may choose which major party’s ballot to vote.
Early voting in West Springfield will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 27 in the town library, 200 Park St., West Springfield, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. Registered voters from all parts of town will vote in the same location.
Election Day polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with precincts 1 and 2 voting at the Senior Center, 128 Park St., West Springfield, and precincts 3-8 voting at West Springfield High School, 425 Piper Rd., West Springfield.
The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation is Aug. 27. Election-related materials can be requested or returned during business hours at the town clerk’s office in Town Hall, 26 Central St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Materials can be returned at all hours in the secure dropbox in the Town Hall lobby.
Democratic candidates
In the Democratic Party, only Maura Healey is still actively campaigning for governor, though Sonia Chang-Diaz is also on the ballot. Healey is the current state attorney general.
Democrats will decide a three-way race for their lieutenant governor nomination, among Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll; Acton state Rep. Tami Gouveia; and Longmeadow state Sen. Eric Lesser.
Three Democrats are also running for attorney general: former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell; Brookline lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan; and Weston lawyer Quentin Palfrey.
For secretary of state, incumbent William Galvin of Boston faces a primary election challenge from NAACP leader Tanisha Sullivan, also of Boston.
Brookline resident Christopher Dempsey and former Methuen state Sen. Diana DiZoglio are the two Democratic candidates for state auditor.
Democrats have four choices for their nomination for governor’s councilor: Shawn Allyn of Agawam, Michael Fenton of Springfield, Tara Jacobs of North Adams and Jeffrey Morneau of East Longmeadow.
Incumbent John Velis is the only candidate on Agawam and West Springfield Democratic ballots for state senator. This is the first election using a new legislative map that shifts West Springfield into the district currently represented by Velis.
The state representative district in West Springfield also has just one Democratic candidate, incumbent Michael Finn.
Other Democratic candidates on local ballots are unopposed: incumbent Deborah Goldberg for state treasurer; incumbent Richard Neal for representative in Congress; incumbent Anthony Gulluni for district attorney; and incumbent Nick Cocchi for sheriff.
Republican candidates
Republicans’ only contested primary races are for governor and lieutenant governor. For the top spot, former state Rep. Geoff Diehl of Whitman and businessman Chris Doughty of Wrentham are the candidates.
For lieutenant governor, Republicans can choose former Danvers state Rep. Leah Allen, who has aligned her campaign with Diehl’s, or former Spencer state Rep. Kate Campanale, who has aligned her campaign with Doughty’s.
Republicans’ sole candidate for state attorney general is James McMahon III of Bourne. Also unopposed for the nomination are secretary of state candidate Rayla Campbell of Whitman, auditor candidate Anthony Amore of Winchester, Congressional candidate Dean Martilli of West Springfield, Governor’s Council candidate John Comerford of Palmer and state Senate candidate Cecilia Calabrese of Agawam.
There are also no potential nominees for state treasurer, state representative, district attorney or county sheriff on West Springfield Republican ballots.