Amherst Town Hall is the designated spot for Amherst residents to cast their ballots in the state's new early voting program which started Monday and runs through November 4.
Early voting for the Sept. 1 state primary begins on Saturday and runs throughout next week. Credit: KEVIN GUTTING / Staff File Photo

Democratic and Republican voters across the region will have races to decide at the Sept. 1 state primary, though ballots in some area communities will feature more contests.

Early in-person voting starts Saturday, Aug. 22, and continues throughout the last week of August.

The most high-profile race on all Democratic ballots is between incumbent U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton for Markey’s Senate seat, with the winner facing presumptive Republican nominee John Deaton in the November general election.

A new survey of registered voters by the University of Massachusetts and WCVB, conducted Aug. 5 to 12, found Markey up on Moulton 60% to 32%.

For Republicans, the major race is between Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve for governor, with the winner to face incumbent Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who is running unopposed in the primary.

In a similar poll by UMass/WCVB, Minogue was found to enjoy a 53% to 26% advantage over Shortsleeve.

All Democratic voters throughout western Massachusetts will also choose between incumbent Tara Jacobs of North Adams and Michael Fenton of Springfield to serve on the Governor’s Council District 8. The winner is assured of sitting on the panel as Republicans are not fielding a candidate.

In Charlemont, Monroe, Hawley and Rowe, Democratic voters will choose between U.S. Rep. Richie Neal and challenger Jeromie Whalen of South Hadley, with the winner to face Independent candidates Nadia Milleron and Anthony Celata in November.

In the remaining Franklin County and North Quabbin communities, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern is running unopposed. There is no Republican running for the seat.

In Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Rowe, Shelburne, Sunderland and Whately, as well as Precincts 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the city of Greenfield, Democratic voters will choose between Corinne Coryat of Deerfield and Lora Wondolowski of Greenfield to succeed Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, who left the position in January. The winner will face Independent candidate Amy Lavallee of Whately in the November election.

Franklin County voters also have to fill a sheriff vacancy, with interim Sheriff Lori Streeter on the Democratic ballots and no candidate on Republican ballots. Independent candidates Jon Hall and Gary Gagnon will appear on the November general election ballot.

The remaining Democratic incumbents are running unopposed. They include state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, Sen. Paul Mark, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. Aaron Saunders, D-Belchertown. Rep. Susannah Whipps is running unopposed as an Independent to continue representing the 2nd Franklin District.

Other statewide Democratic incumbents running unopposed, in addition to Healey, are Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Secretary of State William Galvin, Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

Also running unopposed on Democratic ballots is Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan and for Franklin County, Register of Probate Daniel Graves.

For Republican ballots, in addition to the gubernatorial candidates, the only names printed on the ballot are Shawn Oliver for lieutenant governor, Mike Walsh for attorney general and Elizabeth Dionne for treasurer. The remaining state and local offices are left blank, though some candidates are staging write-in campaigns, including Anne Manning Martin for lieutenant governor and Anne Brensley for secretary of state.

The dates, times and locations of early voting in Franklin County, according to the secretary of state’s website, are as follows:

  • Ashfield: Town Hall, 412 Main St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Athol: Town Hall, 584 Main St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 8 a.m. to noon.
  • Bernardston: Town Hall, 38 Church St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, noon to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Buckland: Town Hall, 17 State St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 7:30 to 11 a.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to noon.
  • Charlemont: Town Hall, 157 Main St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 1 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 and Tuesday, Aug. 25, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 2 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Colrain: Town Offices, 55 Main Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Thursday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Conway: Town Hall, 5 Academy Hill Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 2 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to noon.
  • Deerfield: Town Hall, 8 Conway St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, through Friday, Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Erving: Town Hall, 12 East Main St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m. to noon; Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Gill: Town Hall, 325 Main Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, through Thursday, Aug. 27, 1 to 3 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
  • Greenfield: City Hall, 14 Court Square — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25 through Friday, Aug. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
  • Hawley: Town Offices, 8 Pudding Hollow Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25, noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Heath: Town Clerk’s Office, 18 Jacobs Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Aug. 23, 7 to 9 a.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Thursday, Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m. to noon.
  • Leverett: Town Hall, 9 Montague Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Leyden: Town Offices, 7 Brattleboro Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 5 to 7 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to noon.
  • Monroe: Town Hall, 3C School St. — Sunday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Montague: Town Hall, 1 Avenue A — Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, and Tuesday, Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • New Salem — Information is unavailable on the secretary of state’s website.
  • Northfield: Town Hall, 69 Main St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to noon.
  • Orange: Town Hall, 6 Prospect St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Petersham: Town Hall, 1 South Main St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 5:30 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Friday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Phillipston: Town Hall, 50 The Common — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 and Tuesday, Aug. 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Rowe: Town Hall, 321 Zoar Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, Monday, Aug. 24 and Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m. to noon; Thursday, Aug. 27, 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Royalston: Whitney Hall, 5 School St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 to 11 a.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Shelburne: Town Hall, 51 Bridge St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Friday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 and Thursday, Aug. 27, 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Shutesbury: Town Hall, 1 Cooleyville Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, noon to 4 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24 and Tuesday, Aug. 25, noon to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26, 4 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 27, noon to 2 p.m.
  • Sunderland: Town Offices, 12 School St. — Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Wednesday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thursday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to noon.
  • Warwick: Town Hall, 12 Athol Road — Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Wendell: Town Offices, 9 Morse Village Road — Sunday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25, 5 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Whately: Town Offices, 4 Sandy Lane: Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 25 through Thursday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to noon; Friday, Aug. 28, noon to 5 p.m.

Scott Merzbach is a reporter covering local government and school news in Amherst and Hadley, as well as Hatfield, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury. He can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5253.

Johnny Depin graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in journalism in 2025. He is the West County beat reporter and can be reached at jdepin@recorder.com or by phone at 413-930-4579.