Primary Election Includes State Senate, Governor's Council Races

The Democratic Party race for state Senate and Governor’s Council are the two contested contests on Thursday’s primary ballot in Danvers.

Polls in Danvers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On the Democratic ballot, voters will choose a Democratic candidate for state Senate that will face Republican Richard Jolitz in the November general election. The candidates are Edward Carroll, Joan Lovely, Mary-Ellen Manning and John Slattery.

There are four Democrats seeking the party’s backing to face Republican Maura Ciardiello in November for the Fifth District seat on the Governor’s Council. The Democrats are Donald Bumiller, Eileen Duff, David Eppley and George O’Brine.

There are no contested races on the Republican and Green Rainbow ballots. A sample ballot for all three parties is attached to this story as a PDF.

The four polling sites are located at town schools and the senior center as follows:

Precincts 1 and 2,

Precincts 3 and 5,

Precincts 4 and 6,

Precincts 7 and 8,

Each location is handicapped accessible. One thing to note, however, is that the main entrances to the Thorpe and Smith schools are in the rear of the buildings. Handicapped voters should park in back of the schools instead of out of front.

If you don't know or are unsure which precinct you live in, call the clerk's office at 978-777-0001 ext. 3046. You can also find more election information from the Secretary of State's office here, including which polling site you should vote at in your town.

Town Clerk Joe Collins said this week he expects turnout to be between 15 to 20 percent.

Collins said that school will be in session on Thursday and since three of the four polling places are schools, voters will find fewer traffic and parking problems if they go to the polls after school is dismissed. Thursday is an early release day, so elementary schools get out at 1:15 p.m. and the middle school gets out at 12:45 p.m.

“People who vote in the afternoon or evening won’t have any problems with traffic,” Collins said on Tuesday.