Marlborough 2020 Primary Election Guide: Races, How To Vote

Neal McNamara
Updated ·3 min read

MARLBOROUGH, MA — From the coronavirus pandemic to the twists and turns of the U.S. Senate race, the 2020 September primary is going to be yet another interesting election in Massachusetts.

The marquee race this year is between incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III. The reason why Kennedy wants to unseat a progressive who's been in Congress for 40-plus years is a little unclear, depending on how close you are to Hyannis Port.

But Democratic voters in Marlborough have an important local race, too. State Rep. Danielle Gregoire is getting a primary challenge from Northborough resident Jeanne Cahill.

Another factor in the election is, of course, the pandemic. Early voting is happening through Aug. 28, but anyone in Massachusetts can vote absentee by mail this year — although uncertainty about the U.S. Postal Service has some voters nervous about that option.

How to vote in Marlborough

All early in-person voting will happen at the Marlborough Senior Center, 40 New St., during these hours through Aug. 28:

  • Aug. 24 to 28 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

But you can vote by mail at any point up until Sept. 1. You should've already received an application from the Secretary of State's office. If not, you can apply online, but the deadline is Aug. 26. If you don't want to vote by mail, you can drop your ballot off at City Hall.

In-person voting Sept. 1 will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at these locations:

  • Ward 1, 2, all precincts: Francis J. Kane School, 520 Farm Road

  • Ward 3, 4, all precincts: Senior Center, 40 New St.

  • Ward 3, precinct 2: Raymond Richer School, 80 Foley Road

  • Ward 5, all precincts: Masonic Lodge, 8 Newton St.

  • Ward 6, all precincts: Whitcomb School, 25 Union St.

  • Ward 7, all precincts: Hildreth School, 85 Sawin St.

Who's on the ballot

For Democrats, the Kennedy-Markey race is at the top of the ticket, followed by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who is running unopposed this year. Depending on which state House district you live in, Democrats will see slightly different ballots:

4th Middlesex District

  • 3rd District Governor's Council — Marilyn Petitto Devaney (unopposed)

  • State Senate — James Eldridge (unopposed)

  • State House — Danielle Gregoire (i), Jeanne Cahill (click names for candidate profiles)

  • Middlesex County Register of Probate — Tara DeCristofaro (unopposed)

13th Middlesex District

  • 3rd District Governor's Council — Marilyn Petitto Devaney (unopposed)

  • State Senate — James Eldridge (unopposed)

  • State House — Carmine Gentile (unopposed)

  • Middlesex County Register of Probate — Tara DeCristofaro (unopposed)

Marlborough Republicans will only have two races to vote in, and one is unopposed.

Republicans Shiva Ayyadurai and Kevin O'Connor are vying for the chance to face off against either Markey or Kennedy in the November general election. Sudbury resident Ingrid Centurion is running unopposed to challenge Gentile in the general.

Neither the Green Rainbow nor the Libertarian parties have candidates running in the primary.

This article originally appeared on the Marlborough Patch