August 17 Deadline to Register for September Primary

| August 15, 2012 | City Hall, Election 2012, Political Scene | No Comments

– Allison Goldsberry

Friday, August 17 is the last day to register to vote in time for the September 6 state primary, according to City Clerk Ed Finn.

Voters must register by 5:00PM either in person at the Registrar of Voters office at City Hall, or via mail with the registration form postmarked by the deadline. A registration form and helpful information about registering to vote is on the city website.

So what is this state primary and who is running for office? According to information released by the Registrar of Voters office and from the Secretary of State’s website, there will be three different ballots for Democratic, Republican, and Green-Rainbow primary candidates running for several state offices.

Medford voters will see candidates for the following: Senator in Congress (statewide); Representative in Congress (5th District); Councillor (6th District); Senator in the General Court (2nd Middlesex District); Representative in General Court (35th Middlesex, 23rd Middlesex, or 34th Middlesex District); Clerk of Courts (Middlesex County); Register of Deeds (Middlesex Southern District); and Sheriff (Middlesex County).

Voters enrolled in a party who participate in the September 6 primary must use their party’s particular ballot while voters unenrolled in a party can choose one of the three ballots.

Three Republican candidates are seeking to be their party’s challenger to long-time Democratic Congressman Edward Markey. Republican voters will decide among Frank Addivinola, Jeffrey Semon, and Tom Tierney. The candidate receiving the most votes will be on the ballot in November.

There is a six-way race among Democratic candidates for Register of Deeds, the head position in a regional land records office. There is no Republican candidate, so the Democrat who wins the primary will ultimately win the seat. Robert Antonelli, Frank Ciano, Thomas Concannon, Maria Curtatone, Tiziano Doto, and Maryan Heuston are all vying for the position.

The presidential election is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The deadline to register to vote in the election is Wednesday, October 17 by 8:00PM. On Election Day voters will also choose between incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren.