Polls across Lexington opened up on Tuesday morning to welcome residents for the Massachusetts state primary election. But of the town’s 23,370 registered voters, only 5,143 cast their ballots between early voters, residents who voted by mail, and those who showed up on election day. That’s just 22%.
This year’s voter count is down from the 29% of residents who voted in the 2022 state primary election and the 51% who voted in the 2020 state primary, when Joe Kennedy III ran against Sen. Ed Markey in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
While this election was not stacked with contested races — many of the candidates on the ballot were incumbents and few faced challengers — there were two key races to follow.
Two Democrats in District 3 were each looking to be elected to the Governor’s Council, a group of eight elected officials with the power to approve or veto judges, pardons, and commutations.
In that race, Mara Dolan, a public defender from Concord who was endorsed by the Boston Globe, beat out 25-year incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney of Watertown by securing about 52% of votes, according to the Associated Press. Among Lexington Democrats, Dolan captured 2,498 votes to Devaney’s 1,620.
Ahead of the election, Dolan told LexObserver that she would only support judges who are pro-choice, prioritize treatment over punishment for substance abuse, and recognize the racial disparities in the state’s court systems.
No Republican candidate is running against Dolan in the general election in November.
The other key race was between three Republican candidates who campaigned to face off against Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the general election for US Senate.
John Deaton, who moved to Swansea this year from Rhode Island, is a trial lawyer, former Marine, and advocate for cryptocurrency, won the spot on the GOP ticket by capturing about 65% of votes, according to AP. Of the 517 Lexington Republicans who voted in the primary, 346 voted for Deaton.
The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5 and the deadline to register to vote ahead of that election is Oct. 26.
If you would like to vote by mail for the general election, you must do so by Oct. 29 at 5:00 pm.
On the day of the general election, polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
More information about where and how to vote in the state’s general election can be found on the town’s website.
With the League of Women Voters of Lexington and the hospitality of the Lexington Historical Society, there is going to be a Get Ready to Vote event in Lexington Center. Everyone in Lexington is welcome to attend.
• The event takes place on National Voter Registration Day, September 17, 2024, 2:30 – 5 p.m., under the awning in front of the Lexington Depot.
• Lexington High School students have planned and prepared the event and will be staffing the table after school, from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
• There will be free lemonade and cupcakes!
• The purpose of the event is to assist voters (and aspiring voters) to get ready to vote ahead of the November 5, 2024, election. You’ll get help with registering to vote, pre-registering if you are 16 or 17, checking your voter registration, updating your voter information, requesting mail-in ballots, finding election information, and having your questions answered.
• The students have worked hard on this event, and it would be wonderful if you would stop by and say hello, and maybe even seek their assistance! Best time to see students: between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m.
I hope you’ll visit our table, even if it’s just to say hello—and please do spread the word!
Thank you,
Jeri Zeder
Volunteer, League of Women Voters of Lexington
p.s. I’d like to express my gratitude to the many people and organizations that are making this event possible.
• First, to the students. They gave up hours of their summer vacation to conceive of and plan this event, including studying the voter and election pages of the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office. They are thoughtful, collaborative, and so creative!
• The students’ parents, for making it possible for their children to participate.
• The League of Women Voters of Lexington for sponsorship and financial support.
• The Lexington Historical Society for giving us sheltered outdoor space for our table.
• Lexington Town Clerk Mary de Alderete for her graciousness, enthusiasm, and expertise, and to other Town staff for their patience and for helping to get the word out.
• Lexington Public Schools Superintendent Julie Hackett for moral and technical support.
• The Lexington Police Department for allowing us to hold meetings in their new bright, quiet, air-conditioned small community room.
• Teen Librarian Michelle Techler and Cary Library’s Teen Services department which, while laboring under the burden of the library construction project, nevertheless offered to help without being asked and is coming through with staffing and other critical support.
• Munroe Center for the Arts Executive Director Cristina Burwell for creative consultation and encouragement.
Everyone at every step of the way said yes. Just yes, without hesitation. We live in a wonderful town!