Election Day is on the horizon in Boston, with two weeks to go until voters make their way to the preliminary polls deciding which candidates they want to see on the November ballot.
The preliminary election will be held Sept. 9. Boston residents can vote in-person, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. — a full list of polling places is available on the city’s election website. Early voting is also an option on Aug. 30th and 31, with additional dates Sept. 2 through Sept. 5. You can also vote by mail if you request a ballot by Sept. 2.
Galvin sits down with NBC10 Political Reporter Matt Prichard to discuss the challenges ahead of the next election and how he believes we need to uphold democracy.
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Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin’s office is overseeing this election following Boston’s ballot blunder in November 2024.
“The basic problems are the same,” said Galvin. “Process of distribution of ballots, which was handled poorly in ’24, as well as the communication issue, which is the thing we most especially wanted to fix, we think we have.”
As for the candidates and key races, all eyes are on the contest for Boston’s mayor. Four candidates are vying to move on to the November general election, including incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu, Josh Kraft, Domingos Darosa and Robert Cappucci.
“In all likelihood, it’s going to be Wu and Kraft,” said political analyst Erin O’Brien. “There are two other candidates who have never reached double digits.”
Political experts we spoke with voiced confidence that Wu and Kraft would both survive this first round of voting, but made clear Kraft will need to make a stronger case down the stretch.
“Maybe he can close that gap,” said O’Brien. “But from a political watcher, if you enjoy competitive races, this mayor’s race has failed to deliver.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu holds a double-digit lead over Josh Kraft in a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll. We asked residents about the findings.
“He really hasn’t made the case as to why he should be mayor of Boston,” said former Boston City Councilor Larry DiCara.
Crowded candidate fields also exist for at-large city council seats, and in the race to represent District 7. Analysts say they hope that motivates voters to show up and make their voices heard.
“Maybe 75,000 people will vote,” said DiCara. “Every vote really counts.”
“Get out there and do your job,” said O’Brien. “Vote.”
Wu and Kraft will take part in a mayoral forum Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the NBCU Boston Media Center.
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