Light Vote Expected on Thursday’s Primary

Thursday’s primary, replacing the traditional first Tuesday of September primary, is not expected to bring out a major vote.

Although there are several races Revere voters should be interested in – primary among them Suffolk County Clerk of Probate and Suffolk County Superior Court Clerk as well as the District 6 Governor’s Council race – interest in the various races is considered slim.

Secretary of State William Galvin said he is expecting a lower than usual voter turnout because of a large number of what are considered lackluster races. He predicts that turnout at 15 percent statewide and in some places even lower.

Local voters are being prodded by the various candidates to get out and to vote with most candidates believed to be relying on their name recognition and loyalists to cast ballots that will put them over the top.

Another reason voting will be lower than usual. According to Galvin, is the Thursday date instead of the traditional Tuesday primary.

Galvin said the change was made due to timing. According to federal law, he is required to call for an election at least 45 days in advance. However holding the election later this month would not allow enough time for challenges to election results, he said.

Tuesday this week would also have been difficult because election workers would have needed to be called in on the Monday holiday.

The state has held elections twice before on Thursday – in 1988 and 1964 for the same reasons.

Revere’s Election Commissioner Diane Colella said she agreed with Galvin, “he should know,” she said.

“My sense from my experience is that it will be under 20 percent most likely. Revere residents tend to stay away from state primaries,” she added. There are 25,223 voters here. Colella predicts about 4000 voters will come out, she said.

The Democratic ballot includes those Democrats without a race including Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Edward Markey, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, State Senator Anthony Petruccelli and Representative Kathi Anne Reinstein.

Those with a race includes Terrence Kennedy and Chip Flaherty for District 6 Governor’s Councillor, Clerk Maura Hennigan versus Robert Dello Russo for Suffolk County Superior Court Criminal Clerk and Boston City Councillor Sal LaMattina versus Patty Campatelli for Suffolk County Probate Clerk.

The Republican ballot includes three candidates for the US Congress which includes Frank Addivinola Jr., Jeffrey M. Semon, and Tom Tierney.

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