Chelmsford 2022 Primary Guide: How To Vote, Deadlines, Candidates

CHELMSFORD, MA — Chelmsford voters go to the polls Tuesday for the state primary election, though many already have cast their ballot during early, in-person voting or by mail.

The 2022 primary will be the first in Massachusetts to feature the state's brand-new, pandemic-tested voting system. The state Legislature passed the VOTES Act in June, making mail-in voting a permanent feature of elections in the state. The law also expanded early voting to all state primaries and general elections going forward.

With new voting rules in place and a ton of candidates on the ballot, Patch has put together a 2022 Chelmsford primary voting guide to get you primed and ready to vote. Here's everything you need to know:

Important Dates

• Early voting period for primary: Aug. 27 to Sept. 2
• Delivery of a mail-in ballot: Sept. 6 at 8 p.m.
• Voting on Election Day, Sept. 6: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Check if you're registered to vote here

Voting by mail

Massachusetts briefly joined a handful of other U.S. states in allowing voting by mail during the pandemic. Then the Legislature let the practice expire. Then they brought it back in June after passing a big, new voting rights bill.

The state has improved the vote by mail materials since the pandemic, but the process is largely the same: once you get your ballot, you fill it out at home with a black pen and then return it to be counted. The best way to return a mail-in ballot is by putting in your local ballot drop box or hand-delivering it to your city or town clerk. You CANNOT drop it off at a polling place on Sept. 6.

Polling places

If you're voting in person on Sept. 6, it's possible you'll have a new polling location.

Due to the 2020 Census, most city and town clerks in Massachusetts redrew voting districts to compensate for population shifts. Most likely you'll be voting in the same old place (or by mail), but you can check to make sure here.

Who's on the ballot?

Since it's a primary, your ballot will feature only candidates from the party you've chosen to vote for. Primary elections decide which candidate from the major political parties advance to compete in the November general election. Only the winners of the general election go on to hold office.

In 2022, Democrats have a much bigger field than Republicans with seven competitive races — six if you subtract Sonia Chang-Diaz, who dropped out of the gubernatorial primary in June.

Here are the competitive statewide races for the Democratic and GOP candidates:

STATEWIDE DEMOCRATS

Attorney General

• Andrea Campbell
• Shannon Liss-Riordan
• Quentin Palfrey

Auditor

• Christopher Dempsey
• Diana DiZoglio

Governor

• Sonia Chang-Diaz (dropped out, but still on ballot)
• Maura Healey

Lieutenant Governor

• Kim Driscoll
• Tami Gouveia
• Eric Lesser

Secretary of State

• William Galvin
• Tanisha Sullivan

3rd District Governor's Council

• Marilyn DeVaney, Watertown
• Mara Dolan, Concord

14th District State Representative

• Vivian Birchall, Acton
• Simon Cataldo, Concord
• Patricia Wojtas, Chelmsford

16th District State Representative

• Zoe F. Dzineku, Lowell
• Rodney Elliott, Lowell

See more Democratic state House and Senate candidates here

STATEWIDE REPUBLICANS

Governor

• Geoff Diehl
• Chris Doughty

Lieutenant Governor

• Leah Allen
• Kate Campanale

See more Republican state House and Senate candidates here