Newton residents can help shape the conversation ahead of the Tuesday, September 1 state primary: the League of Women Voters of Newton is collecting public questions for candidate forums covering four contested races on the ballot.
The forums, produced in partnership with NewTV, Newton's community access television station, will cover:
- 10th Middlesex State Representative: incumbent John Lawn, who chairs the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, versus challenger Alison Leary
- Governor's Councillor, District 3: Mara Dolan versus Margie Palladino
- U.S. Representative, 4th Congressional District: Democrats Jake Auchincloss and Jason Poulos, plus Republican Thomas Stalcup
- Middlesex District Attorney
The LWV Newton effort is coordinated with other local Leagues of Women Voters, according to an announcement posted on OurNewton.org on Sunday, July 26.
How to submit questions
Residents can email questions to [email protected]. OurNewton.org lists Friday, July 31 as the deadline for all four forums; the LWV Newton website lists Wednesday, August 5 for the 10th Middlesex and Governor's Councillor forums. Residents should submit by Friday, July 31 to be safe.
Questions should be relevant to the candidates for a given seat. LWV board members will screen submissions to ensure a range of topics are covered within the limited forum time, according to the OurNewton.org post.
When voters can watch
NewTV will make the taped forums available to the public in mid-August, according to the announcement. That gives voters time to watch before early voting begins Saturday, August 22.
Key primary deadlines from the LWV Newton election guide:
- Voter registration deadline: Saturday, August 22
- Last day to change party affiliation: Saturday, August 22
- Vote-by-mail application deadline: 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 25
- Early voting: Saturday, August 22 through Friday, August 28
- Election Day polls: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 1
The September 1 primary includes seven contested races for Newton voters. The LWV Newton election guide at lwvnewton.org has the full list of candidates and deadlines.
