SALISBURY — Local residents are heading out to the polls this week, albeit not in droves, to engage in early voting ahead of the Sept. 1 state primary election.
The primary election has multiple contested races, with incumbent Senator Edward Markey and his challenger, Congressman Seth Moulton, both vying for the Democratic nomination in the race for U.S. Senator. On a more local level, Newburyport-based state Rep. Dawne Shand and her challenger, Salisbury lawyer Stephen Roth are trying to secure the Democratic nomination in the race to represent 1st Essex at the State House and more.
In Salisbury, early voting began on Saturday at Town Hall, with residents able to cast their vote in the town clerk’s office. In-person early voting will continue through Friday, with the polls opening each day at 8:30 a.m. and closing at varying times.
So far its been slow going in Salisbury with Town Clerk Melinda Morrison saying only 13 people cast their vote at Town Hall on Saturday. She based the slow trickle of visitors to the option of mail-in voting.
“Since vote by mail was created, it has been an extremely low turnout of in-person early voting,” she said.
Amesbury residents are also casting their votes at City Hall this week, with voting to run through Thursday. The polls open each day at 8 a.m. and close at varying hours.
Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove did not respond to a request for comment in time for this report.
While early voting will continue through the end of the week, Morrison said she expects that the level of turnout will remain the same, and estimated that less than 20 people will vote in-person during each day of early voting.
However, the number of mail-in ballots requested for this election is much higher, with approximately 700 ballots being sent out to residents and a return rate yet to be determined, Morrison said.
Overall, Morrison said low turnout for a primary election like this one is not uncommon, as general elections typically garner more voters.
“The primaries tend to be a much lower turnout than obviously the general election,” she said.
But, Morrison said she still encourages residents to exercise their right to vote in the primary election, whether that be in-person or by mail.
“Come out. There are races on both sides. You have the opportunity to take your time and vote in-person, early at the office,” she said.
Similarly, Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington urged residents to cast their vote in the upcoming election and engage in the Democratic process.
“The strength of our electoral system depends on the participation of citizens in voting. There are important races to be decided in the upcoming primary election on Sept. 1 and I urge all Salisbury residents to exercise their constitutional right to make a difference by voting,” he said.