What you need to know: Worcester preliminary election on Sept. 5

There are five races on the ballot for the Sept. 5 preliminary election, with candidates hoping for a spot in the Nov. 7 municipal election.

Worcester voters will be electing a mayor, city councilors and School Committee members this fall. Not all seats are on the preliminary ballot.

Preliminary elections are held for seats in which the number of candidates is more than double the number of sought seats. For example, there is a preliminary for District 1 city councilor because there are three candidates. Meantime, there is no preliminary for at-large city councilor because there are 11 candidates for six seats.

Important dates

Aug. 26: Last day to register to vote for preliminary election.

Sept. 5: Preliminary election. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Oct. 28: Last day to register to vote for municipal election.

Nov. 7: Municipal election. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More: Worcester voter registration information

Who's running for mayor?

There is no preliminary for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Joseph Petty faces challenges by Councilor-at-Large Khrystian E. King, Guillermo Creamer and William Coleman. Coleman said Monday that he was making a bid for mayor.

Under Worcester’s charter, all at-large City Council candidates are also automatically candidates for mayor, unless they opt out. Most do. The deadline for opting out is Sept. 12.

To be elected mayor, a candidate must place first in the mayor’s race and also finish among the top six in the at-large City Council race.

Preliminary candidates for district seats on City Council

There are five district seats.

All but District 3 will be on the preliminary ballot. In District 3, Feanna Jattan-Singh is challenging incumbent George Russell.

Preliminary races (listed in ballot order):

District 1: David C. Peterson, Larry R. Shetler and Jenny Pacillo. Incumbent Sean Rose is not running again.

District 2: Robert A. Bilotta, Philip Paul Palmieri, Candy F. Mero-Carlson (incumbent)

District 4: Luis Albizu Ojeda, Katia Gisela Norford, Theodore A. Kostas, Maureen Schwab and Maria V. Montano. Incumbent Sarai Rivera is not seeking reelection.

District 5: Etel Haxhiaj (incumbent), Jose Antonio Rivera and Edson Montero.

School Committee hopefuls

More: District E School Committee preliminary race Sept. 5: Meet the 3 candidates

The School Committee election will be different this year, with the panel no longer filled by only at-large seats. There will be two at-large seats and six district seats, to be labeled A through F. The mayor also serves on the committee.

The change followed a lawsuit that the all at-large method was discriminatory.

The map was drawn with two “majority-minority” districts — Districts B and D — meaning that more than 50% of the voting-age population of those districts are Black, Hispanic and Latino combined, as well as making sure each district contains approximately the same number of residents.

Only District E requires a preliminary. The candidates are Nelly Medina, Kathleen L. Roy and John Patrick Reed.

More: Worcester's School Committee election will be different this year. Here's what to know

Worcester: Find your School Committee district

Early voting

The week prior to the Sept. 5 preliminary, registered voters will be able to cast a ballot. A polling site will be set up at the main Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.

Voting on Sept. 5 Find your polling site for the Worcester preliminary election

Don't forget the state Senate race

With Anne Gobi giving up her Worcester and Hampshire District seat for a job in rural affairs, there is a wide-open race to fill the vacancy. That race will be on the Nov. 7 ballot in the communities that make up the district.

The Worcester and Hampshire district was redrawn in the latest round of redistricting. It now stretches across much of the state's middle, from Gardner in the north to Brookfield in the south, and from the westernmost part of Worcester out to Ware.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: What you need to know: Worcester preliminary election on Sept. 5