Early voting options set for state primary

As voters get ready to head to the polls for September’s state primary election, Weston residents have several options to cast their votes ahead of time.

Weston is offering both in-person early voting and vote-by-mail options for residents who don’t want to swing by Town Hall or the Community Center on Sept. 1.

Early voting will take place at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 11 Town House Road, on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 24 to 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 28, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To vote by mail, voters can request an application through the Town Clerk’s office or online by Aug. 27, according to Town Clerk Janet Murphy. Residents voting by mail are encouraged to mail their ballot or drop it off at an approved ballot drop off location as early as possible to help avoid postal delays.

In terms of local races, it is fairly quiet for Weston voters, as both Sen. Michael Barrett, representing the Third Middlesex District, and Rep. Alice Peisch, representing the 14th Norfolk District, are running unopposed in both the primary and the general election.

There is, however, a contested race for a Governor’s Council seat to represent District 3 between incumbent Mara Dolan and challenger Margie Palladino.

For statewide candidates, Gov. Maura Healey is running unopposed, while Republican voters will choose either Michael Minogue or Brian Shortsleeve to challenge her.

At the federal level, voters will be selecting candidates to run for the U.S. House and Senate.

For the Fifth Congressional District, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark is facing challenges from Tarik Samman and Jonathan Paz. No Republican candidates are running.

A U.S. Senate seat is also up for grabs. Democratic voters will choose between incumbent Sen. Ed Markey and Congressman Seth Moulton, while Republican Senate Candidate John Deaton is running unopposed in his primary.