Primary turnout light in Worcester, site of high-profile Senate race
WORCESTER — Coming out in dribs and drabs, the electorate made it through the rain to offer their say on state lawmakers.
No stranger to casting votes or politicking, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern strolled in his new polling place at Salem Covenant Church at 215 East Mountain St. around 9 a.m.
“Elections are important. Elections matter,” McGovern said. “And I hope there’s a good turnout today.”
Despite the miserable weather, McGovern said nothing would stop him from coming out to vote. And he said he hopes people appreciate the importance of coming out to vote, no matter if it’s the primary or general election and, especially no matter what kind of weather.
“If you don’t show up, your voice doesn’t count,” McGovern continued. “I always called my mother who lives across the street and make sure she votes today. And she said, ‘Of course, I am. Why would you think otherwise?’”
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In addition to the 1st Worcester District Senate race between Robyn K. Kennedy and Mayor Joseph M. Petty, McGovern points out there are important statewide races that will have an impact on Worcester.
More: Robyn Kennedy in line to claim 1st Worcester seat in state Senate
As for who he voted for in the 1st Worcester District Senate race, McGovern said he stays neutral in that race.
“Both candidates are dear friends of mine and they provide a incredible service to our community,” McGovern said. “They’re both great.”
'It’s a privilege'
Sally Brady and Phyllis McGill also made it through the rain to go to the polls because she feels it’s too important to stay in due to the weather.
“It’s primary day and I want to vote. It is important. Absolutely,” Brady said. “Especially the attorney general. I think that’s a really important race this time around.”
“With everything that has been going on nationally. I think it’s very important to get the state votes in too,” McGill said. “Everybody should come out and vote. It’s a privilege we have. We need to take advantage of it.”
As of 9:30 a.m., only 73 votes had been cast in two and half hours at the polling location.
Carrying her two-year-old niece Gianna, Kennedy went to Salem Covenant Church to vote alongside her mother and older sister Tracy.
“We’re excited. There’s a lot of energy out there,” Kennedy said. “Despite the rain, there’s a lot of energy.”
Voting light at Nelson Place School
It was noticeably quieter at the Nelson Place School, where Mayor Petty and his wife were the third and fourth voters Tuesday morning shortly after 7 a.m. From there, Petty went to Northborough to campaign, and later to West Boylston.
“People should come out and vote,” resident Michael O’Sullivan said, prior to casting his ballot at Nelson Place School. “The voting places are right near your house, no matter where you are. You can always come on your way to work, on your way home from work, and it’s absolutely important. It’s up to us as voters to keep things going.”
Even if a hard rain is going to fall, O’Sullivan, who declares himself “a screaming citizen,” said it’s going to take a lot more than inclement weather to stop him from coming out to vote.
“I try to come and vote every time. The primaries or the finals, I always try to get out,” O’Sullivan continued. “I’ve done a little campaigning in the past. They work hard at it. So you come out and make a vote. It’s what we do as citizens…A little bit a rain shouldn’t prevent us for doing things that we have to do, such as voting, things that are important.”
As of 10 a.m., only 30 votes had been cast at Nelson Place School.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Primary election turnout light in Worcester for Petty-Kennedy race
