Charlie Breitrose
The Massachusetts State Primary will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 6, and Watertown voters will be going to the polls — some at locations different from the previous election.
Democrats and Republicans candidates will are running for their party’s nomination for the State Election on Nov. 8.
Who’s on the Ballot
Dems have six contested races, including governor, lieutenant governor, and — of local interest — Governor’s Councilor. GOP voters have two contested races: governor and lieutenant governor.
Governor
On the Democratic side, Attorney General Maura Healey is on the ballot with State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, who announced she has suspended her campaign. While former State Rep. Geoff Diehl takes on entrepreneur Chris Doughty in the Republican race.
Lieutenant Governor
Former State Rep. Leah Allen and former State Rep. Kate Campanale are vying for the GOP lieutenant governor’s nomination, and for the Dems there are three candidates: Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, State Rep. Tami Gouveia, and State Sen. Eric Lesser.
Attorney General
Three people appear on the ballot for the Democratic nomination for AG, Andrea Joy Campbell, Shannon Liss-Riordan, and Quentin Palfrey, but Palfrey recently announced he withdrew from the race. James McMahon is the only one on the GOP ballot.
Secretary of State
Incumbent William Galvin is challenged by Tanisha Sullivan for the Dems’ nomination for Secretary of State. The only name on the Republican ballot is Rayla Campbell.
Treasurer
Incumbent Deborah Goldberg, a Democrat, is the only name on either ballot.
Auditor
Anthony Amore is the only Republican running for Auditor. Democrats will choose from Chris Dempsey and Diana DiZoglio.
Congress
Only one person is running in each party’s primary for U.S. Congress, incumbent Katherine Clark for the Democrats and Caroline Colarusso for the Republicans.
Governor’s Councilor
The Democratic race for District 3 Governor’s Councilor (listed as Councilor on the ballot) has grabbed headlines this year in a race that has become contentious. Incumbent Marilyn Pettito Devaney of Watertown is challenged by Mara Dolan. No Republicans are on the ballot.
State Senator
Democrat Will Brownsberger is running unopposed for re-election. No Republicans are on the ballot.
State Representative
The two incumbent state reps, both Dems, will be running unopposed: Steve Owens and John Lawn. A change from previous elections due to redistricting is that Precinct 9 will now be in Lawn’s district (10th Middlesex) after previously being in Owen’s district (29th Middlesex). No Republicans are on the ballot.
District Attorney
Democrat Marian Ryan seeks re-election as Middlesex District Attorney, and is unopposed by either party.
Sheriff
Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, a Democrat, has no opposition in his party or by the GOP.
Where to Vote
A number of polling places for Watertown voters will differ from the 2o21 election. The precincts impacted are: precincts 2, 7, 10, and 11. Also, a few voters will be in new precincts due to redistricting.
The City sent out white postcards to voters whose voting locations have changed. About one-third of the 6,000 postcards had the wrong information due to an error by the printing company, so a second bright green postcard was sent to the homes which received the incorrect information.
To check what precinct you are in, where you will vote, and who is on your ballot, enter your address on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website (click here).
2022 Watertown Election Locations
- Precinct 1: Hellenic Center
- Precinct 2: Hosmer School
- Precinct 3: Hellenic Center
- Precinct 4: Phillips School
- Precinct 5: Phillips School
- Precinct 6: Hibernian Hall
- Precinct 7: Watertown Middle School
- Precinct 8: Watertown Middle School
- Precinct 9: Watertown Middle School
- Precinct 10: Watertown Police Station
- Precinct 11: Cunniff School
- Precinct 12: Cunniff School
Election Day will also be the opening day for the Watertown Public Schools. For detailed information about polling locations see the information below provided by the City of Watertown:
Also be aware that changes have been made to some of the Polling Precincts and info:
1 – Hellenic Center, 29 Bigelow Avenue
2 – Hosmer School, 1 Concord Road
Voters in Precinct #2 will use the Hosmer School as their polling location and will enter at Door #6. The Hosmer School is located at 1 Concord Road. Voters must park on Concord Road. This same door will be used by voters to exit the polls.
Please be aware of and respectful of students and staff and follow all signage for voters.
3 – Hellenic Center, 29 Bigelow Avenue
4 – Phillips School, 30 Common Street
Voters in Precinct #4 will use the Phillips School as their polling location and will enter here, via the Senior Center entrance at 31 Marshall Street. Voters must park on Marshall Street or Spring Street. This same door will be used by voters to exit the polling location.
Please be aware of and respectful of all staff and visitors at the Senior Center and follow all signage for voters.
5 – Phillips School, 30 Common Street
Voters in Precinct #5 will use the Phillips School as their polling location and will enter here, via the Senior Center entrance at 31 Marshall Street. Voters must park on Marshall Street or Spring Street. This same door will be used by voters to exit the polling location.
Please be aware of and respectful of all staff and visitors at the Senior Center and follow all signage for voters.
6 – Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown Street
7 – Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Avenue
Voters in Precinct #7 will use the Middle School as their polling location. The Middle School is located at 68 Waverley Avenue. Voters will use the entrance at the rear of the building at Door #7. Voters must park on Bemis Street or Westminster Avenue. Voters will exit the polls via Door #9, which is located within the gym/polling location.
Please be aware of and respectful of students and staff and stay within the areas designated for voting. Please follow the signage for voting.
8 – Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Avenue
Voters in Precinct #8 will use the Middle School as their polling location. The Middle School is located at 68 Waverley Avenue. Voters will use the entrance at the rear of the building at Door #7. Voters must park on Bemis Street or Westminster Avenue. Voters will exit the polls via Door #9, which is located within the gym/polling location.
Please be aware of and respectful of students and staff and stay within the areas designated for voting. Please follow the signage for voting.
9 – Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Avenue
Voters in Precinct #9 will use the Middle School as their polling location. The Middle School is located at 68 Waverley Avenue. Voters will use the entrance at the rear of the building at Door #7. Voters must park on Bemis Street or Westminster Avenue. Voters will exit the polls via Door #9, which is located within the gym/polling location.
Please be aware of and respectful of students and staff and stay within the areas designated for voting. Please follow the signage for voting.
10 – Watertown Police Station, 552 Main Street
11 – Cunniff School, 246 Warren Street
Voters in Precinct #11 will use the Cunniff School as their polling location. The Cunniff School is located at 246 Warren Street. Voters will enter the building via Door #2, which is by the playground. Voters must park on Warren Street. This same door will be used by voters to exit the polling location.
Voters are instructed to park on Warren Street. Please be respectful of staff parking areas and of “Staff Only” areas within the school. Follow the signage for voters.
12 – Cunniff School, 246 Warren Street
Voters in Precinct #12 will use the Cunniff School as their polling location. The Cunniff School is located at 246 Warren Street. Voters will enter the building via Door #2, which is by the playground. Voters must park on Warren Street. This same door will be used by voters to exit the polling location.
Voters are instructed to park on Warren Street. Please be respectful of staff parking areas and of “Staff Only” areas within the school. Follow the signage for voters.
Candidates Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Governor) and Quentin Palfrey (D-Attorney General) have “withdrawn” from their respective races, but their names do remain on the ballot.
Why even take the time to vote in the primary when half of those running are unopposed and most of the others have only two choices. Promises that are made to the poor and working class are never realized, none listen to the concerns of the voters, but only their own concerns and party affiliation. One need only see the voting records of these “promising politicians” to understand just where they are coming from, and it’s not, representing you!
You make no valid argument here that should dissuade people from voting tomorrow!
We should all go to vote. If we don’t, our democratic republic will definitely be ruled by career elitist politicians. If you don’t like a candidate on your selected ballot, leave it blank to show your displeasure with the choices or lack thereof. Maybe then the party will get the message that so many people voted in total but many of them wouldn’t vote for this candidate in the future if a better candidate steps up. That MAY wake them up to actually do the peoples’ will instead of theirs.