The state’s top elections official expects between 8 and 10 percent voter turnout on Thursday when voters go to the polls for a variety of state primary races.
There are some races to watch. A seven-way Democratic primary for Suffolk County register of deeds will narrow the field for that $124,000 per year job. A competitive primary for state Senate seats will be held for the Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol county seat being vacated by Sen. Brian Joyce. Incumbent Sen. Patricia Jehlen is fighting off Cambridge City Councilor Leland Cheung for her Cambridge, Somerville and Medford seat. And both Republicans and Democrats will choose nominees for state Senate on Cape Cod and the Islands. Several House seats are also vacant, or seeing challenges to incumbents.
“[Turnout is] largely driven by the candidate effort,” Secretary of State William Galvin told reporters at a press conference Tuesday. “So those places that have those campaigns where the candidates have been canvassing, in particular for the legislative seats in the House, where it’s a very localized campaign, I think we’re going to see a better turnout.”
There are very few contested primaries this election year outside of the few active races, leaving little on the ballot to get voters outside those districts excited. And with primary election day being on a Thursday, this year is getting ready for turnout similar to the dismal displays of other recent presidential years with little state action.
“As you know, there are no statewide offices up this year and there are no Democratic congressional primaries,” Galvin said.
It’s that general election between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton that’s really firing up voters, not the local races.
“Clearly, the interest both here and nationality are on the general election and the presidential campaign,” Galvin said. “I mean, that’s absorbing virtually everyone’s political attention. But these primaries are important.”
Lawmakers set Thursday as primary election day because federal law requires the general election ballot be sent to overseas voters 45 days before the general election on November 8. The Legislature agreed with Galvin to set voting earlier in September on a Thursday to leave elections officials more time to generate the overseas ballots.
