Newton voters have nine days to register, change their party affiliation or request a mail-in ballot before the Sept. 1 state primary, and early voting opens Aug. 22 at Newton City Hall, 100 Walnut Street.

The early voting window runs seven days, from Saturday, Aug. 22 through Friday, Aug. 28. Hours vary by day:

  • Saturday, Aug. 22: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 23: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Monday, Aug. 24: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 26: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 27: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 28: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 25 is the only evening option. The City Council's Programs and Services Committee voted in July to restore those evening hours after the League of Women Voters of Newton objected to the Election Commission's initial plan to cut them. "Our belief is that we're providing 42-and-a-half hours of early voting for the primary and almost exactly double that for the general, and we found in the past that those hours work very well," City Clerk Drew Willison told the Programs and Services Committee on July 23.

Key deadlines

Saturday, Aug. 22, 5 p.m.: Last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the primary.

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 5 p.m.: Deadline for vote-by-mail applications to physically reach the Newton Elections Office. A postmark alone is not sufficient.

Completed mail ballots can be returned by mail, hand-delivered to the Elections Office at City Hall, dropped at the early voting location during open hours or placed in a ballot drop box. Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Sept. 1, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What's on the ballot

Six contested races appear on Newton ballots for the Sept. 1 primary, according to the League of Women Voters of Newton:

  • U.S. Senate (Democratic): Sen. Ed Markey vs. Rep. Seth Moulton
  • 4th Congressional District (Democratic): Rep. Jake Auchincloss vs. Jason Poulos
  • Governor (Republican): Michael Minogue vs. Brian Shortsleeve
  • District 3 Governor's Councillor
  • Middlesex County District Attorney
  • 10th Middlesex State Representative (Democratic): Rep. John J. Lawn vs. Newton City Councilor Alison Leary

The 10th Middlesex race, which covers Ward 1 (Precincts 1, 2A and 4) and Ward 3 (Precinct 4), is a rematch. Lawn defeated Leary 52.7% to 47.2% in the 2020 primary, according to the Waltham Times. No Republican is running, so the Sept. 1 winner advances directly to the Nov. 3 general election.

Lawn has been endorsed by Gov. Maura Healey and Sen. Ed Markey. Leary faces a City Council code-of-conduct investigation after more than 70 Nonantum residents petitioned the council over remarks she made at a July debate, the Boston Herald reported Aug. 12. Council President John Oliver said he would begin investigating "immediately." Leary has since apologized.

As we reported Aug. 5, every registered voter in Massachusetts can vote in a primary regardless of party membership, though party registration affects which ballot you receive.

Residents with questions can reach the City Clerk's Office at 617-796-1200.